It was learned some two weeks ago that a good friend of ours and long time hurler since the early 80's was diagnose with pancreatic and liver cancer . We feel for our friend Brad Ringuette just reaching the young age of 50 who is fighting bravely and nobly this difficult illness. Surprisingly enough through his hard battle , he does not miss coming out to games both on Mondays at the Rick McDonald Memorial Park and at the Lorne Brady Memorial Park in Garson on Thursdays. He may not stay for the whole evening but he stays long enough to be surrounded by loving friends and former players . We even saw Brad come out for the whole weekend at the 35th annual Hunstville Men's Fastball tournament where he was the biggest fan for the J.C./Dog House North Stars from our league .You can see he's suffering and hurting but he does not complain. He simply watches the game and talks to his buddies. Continue your courageous battle Brad . In your honor because you deserve it, we have renamed our Northerns . It will now be called the Brad Ringuette Northern Ontario Open Ladies and Men's Fastball Championships which goes on in Azilda at the Rick McDonald Memorial Park from August 21st to 23rd .Brad will be our guest for the weekend and help us throw out the opening ceremonial first pitch with ourother very special guest Metro Szeryk .
Metro Szeryk you say . Some of our young ball players from today and even those in their forties or early fifties might not know who Metro is but I will give you a small biography . Metro who originated from London Ontario moved up here for a while in the early sixties through the convincing of manager and owner of the International Hotel in the Donovan area .He had already been pitching fastball since the early age of 14 and he was then already very good at . In his early 20's when he started with International Hotel , he astounded the large crowds of between 500 to 800 people who used to come out for games at Queens Athletic field then (section where the canteen now exists) and later at O'Connor Park with his rapid fastball, his superb riser , his unmatched curve to the right and the left , his knuckle change up and of course his bread and butter sizzling drop.In his only full season in Sudbury part of the Senior Nickel Fastball League , Metro , finished that season with a record of 21 and 1 (his only loss was the Ezio Bevalaqua another excellent pitcher from that era) . During that span Metro went 11-0 ( 7 one hitters and 4 no hitters).He then left to play semi pro fastball on the Eastern Coast of the United States and returned to Canada later and finished his carreer in 1984 at the age of 47 .During an eight year span when he played with the then famous Raybestos Cardinals of Stratford Connecticut ,the Cajun Kings of Shreveport Louisiana , the Poughkeepsie Brewers of Poughkeepsie out if New York and the Mid Hudson Merchants from New Jersey , Metro won 198 games and lost only 31 for a winning percentage of 0,86 . In 1 634 and 2/3 innings pitched he fanned 2 732 batters for an average of 1,67 per inning and 11,7 per game .During that same span hed only issued 231 base on balls (0,14 per inning or 0,99 per game) .He gave up only 651 hits (0,40 per inning/2,79 per game) and finally the most astonishing figure was only 188 runs were earned against him to give him a miniscule 0,81 ERA .During those eight years here were his records : 33-6;38;8;22-3;6-0;23-2;27-5;24-2 and 27-5 .Metro appeared in 4 national ASA championship accumunlating a fantastic record of 14-3 , striking out 152 batters in 112 innings of work (1,36 per inning) ;gave up 79 hits (0,70 per inning); issued only 14 walks (0,125 per inning) and gave up 25 earned runs for a superb 1,56 ERA in four years on National ASA championship all with the Cardinals.
Metro now 71, resides in London Ontario. His wife of fifty years and himself will be our guests at the Northerns in August .Metro with the help of Brad will throw out the first ceremonial pitch of the tournament.
Have a good week! We'll see what comes up next week in the news from here and there. Roger
We have a new , very young fan at Athletics ball games recently and we caught up with her on Monday night in Azilda during the first game of a doubleheader sitting on mom's lap . Haveyou guessed who yet? I won't keep you in suspense any longer . Its J.P. Miron's(Athletic infielder) new six month baby girl Fay who was enjoying the game with mom Julie . What a beauty she is with those beautiful blue eyes and of course the spitting image of mom. Lets see what the rest of the week brings us .You can find baby Fay and mom Julie in the photo gallery underneath the caption What a beauty ! You're a keeper!
Its congratulations to Ben Peters one of our young umpires who yesterday with his wife became the proud parents of a 9 pounds 9 ounces baby boy yet to be named.Congrats also to grandfather Chris who is one of our senior officials.Once I get a photo of the baby , I will add it to the photo gallery.
Recently the ISC II Qualifier was awarded to Greater Sudbury for the very first time. Some 8 to 12 of the best men's fastball teams will be in Sudbury at the Terry Fox Sports Complex from August the 28th to the 30th .Come Sunday afternoon a champion will be declared and gain a berth in the World Fastball Championships out of Midland Michigan USA for 2010.Further details will be coming in the next couple of weeks.
We cannot forget the 4th annual Brad Ringuette Northern Ontario Ladies and Men's Open Fastball Championships coming very soon from August 21st to the 23rd in Azilda at the Rick McDonald Memorial Park. Details in the next few days.The Dog House Sportsbar North Stars have won it two of the first three years of the tournament .We are in for a treat when our special guest Metro "Meteor" Szeryk will be our special guess for the weekend and with the help of our friend Brad Ringuette will toss out the first certemonial pitch. Many of the old veterans from the 50's , 60's an d 70's should be in attendance.
The 4th annual All-Star Classic Extravaganza pitting the all-stars from the North Shore Men's Fastball League (9 teams) against the Rick McDonald Memorial Fastball League all-stars (5 teams) is scheduled for Saturday September the 12th in Capreol on field # 1 . The whole affair should get underway at approx . 3 PM with the individual contests such as the home run derby , fastest pitcher , fastest runner and the most accurate outfielder to precede the game. That will be followed by a nine inning game. In 2006 the Rick McDonald league won it 7-6 at Terry Fox , labelled the sunny game .In 2007 once again the Rick McDonald league won a close 6-5 game where we honored over 40 former fastball veterans from the 50's , 60's and 70's - it was labelled the cold game . In 2008 the game was held in Elliot Lake and finished in a 5-5 tie because of rain and was labelled the wet game. We hope to have a nice day in 2009 and call our game the nostalgic one.
Up coming at the 23rd annual World Senior Men's Fastball Tournament in North Bay on the Labor Day weekend our friend Brad Ringuette who presently is suffering with pancreatic and liver cancer will be honored for his many years of fastball and his contributions to the sport.More details later.
The Rick McDonald Memorial Fastball League would like to express its deepest sympathies on the passing of Gerald Piche a well known former pitcher with the Espanola Marshalls of the North Shore F.A.N.S. Men's Fastball League .Our prayers go out to the family.
The Rick McDonald Memorial Fastball League would like to express its deepest sympathies to Mike , Nick , Marcus , Cara and Lisa Foligno on the passing of Janis Foligno mother and wife after a lenghty and courageous battle with cancer. Our prayers go out to the family.
It has been a difficult week but we will go on.
Congratulations to pitcher Gary "Guinou" Lamothe who recently got married in Espanola . You can catch his photo on the gallery with his new wife.Congratulations also to Percy Tobobundung , pitcher with the Parry Island Hawks on the birth of his second child(photo to come next week).
Congratulations to Jackie and Ron MacDonald , the parents of Bruce MacDonald from the Athletics , who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary On Monday August the 17th , 2009. Many best wishes from all of us !!!
Happy birthdays all around these days:
Your administrator Roger Legendre turned 62 on August the 12th
Pat Brennan Sr turned 57 on August the 24th
Pat Brennan Jr turned 36 just recently
Shayne Malone umpire turned 34 recently
Larry Pedersen our umpire in chief will turn 51 on the weekend
Happy birthday guys!!!
May I take this time on behalf of the North Stars to wish everybody who has had, is having, or it is there B-day today, our sincere best wishes and best of luck to you and your families. Yours in fastball…Jr. & the North Stars…. J
A belated happy birthday to Terry Jacques a former member of the Rick McDonald Memorial Fastball League and now with the North Shore who turned a young 45 on August the 8th .Happy birthday my good friend. Roger
The youngest fan of fastball was born to Ed Jr "Shaq" Panamick and Alexis on July 28th at midnight weighing in at a bouncing 8 lbs 3 ounces .Congratulations to the parents and also the grandparents Ed Sr Panamick and Fern "double double " or Mom the official Cardinals scorekeeper .
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705-969-7268 | nickelfastball@playsoftball.ca | www.nickelfastball.playsoftball.ca
