Post by legends on May 11, 2006 12:01:55 GMT -5
WOODSTOCK, ONTARIO
The summer of 2006 should prove to dispel the rumour that major men’s fastball is a dying sport in Ontario, or for that matter North America. While teams may continue to dissolve and in some cases merge, one thing is constant, the hub of the major tournament wheel will roll through southern Ontario again this year.
With major tournament announcements already placing Monkton and Orillia on most ardent fans “must attend” list this summer, and both the ISC World Tournament and the ISC 2 Tournament of Champions slated for Kitchener in August, the only thing missing to wet the appetites of the games most rabid and knowledgeable fans is the kick off event that sets the tone for all major men’s events in Ontario.
It is with great pleasure that the Legends of Fastball Classic announces its return to Woodstock, June 2,3 and 4, at the beautiful Woodstock and District Community Complex. The Legends event has quietly become a mainstay on the Ontario tournament schedule over the past 3 years, and organizers take great pride in being able to showcase the very best of home grown talent while enticing some of the best of American based teams to make the trek into the dairy capital of Southern Ontario.
The Legends event is unique in many ways. First of all it is headed up by a trio of ex-players in Brian Paton, Chuck Hendricks and Larry Lynch. These three have travelled to major tournaments around the globe and their experience and focus is to put fastball at the forefront of the Legends weekend. Secondly, the concept of honouring “legends of the game” brings the players, builders and characters of bygone eras back to the ball park for one more curtain call on what was certainly their legendary careers. Local radio and television personality Brad Janssen brings class and professionalism to the center of the legends ceremony, and his wife Marg heads up the administrative role of the organizing committee.
The Legends is also unique amongst major Ontario fastball events by focusing on Ontario based teams. The core of the tournament line-up over the past 3 years has been the member teams of the ISC Travel League. This year will be no exception as 4 of the premier clubs will participate including Orillia Riversharks, Innerkip Bright Cheese House Eagles, Kitchener Hallman Twins, and the Jarvis Merchants.
With the ISC returning to Kitchener later this year , Legends organizers are happy to welcome both the 2005 ISC 2 Champion Elmira Cubs and the 2006 host team, the Bridgeport ProForma Braves to the field of participants. Likewise, the reigning Canadian National Champions, the St.Thomas Evergreen Centennials will try to capture their first Legends Classic title after losing out to the Broken Bow Spirit in the finals of the 2005 event.
The Legends Classic has always been an international event and organizers are pleased to welcome back the Midland ( Michigan ) Explorers, Heflin ( New York ) Builders and the New York Patsy’s. Most of the players on these 3 teams have been travelling into Southern Ontario for many years, and fans will certainly recognize a lot of familiar and talented performers over the 3 day event.
The tournament is a 10 team , 2 division round-robin format with the top 3 teams in each division advancing to a single knock-out elimination playoff. The 2 division winners will receive a bye in the first round of the playoff and there will be an immediate cross-over between divisions , with the second place team playing the third place team on the other side. The Championship game will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and will be telecast on the Rogers Cable Network in all of Ontario! Please tune into Rogers Television Cable 22 on June 10 at 8 pm to view/record the game.
Stay tuned for the complete schedule and team profiles over the next few weeks.
One thing is for certain, there will be a new Legends of Fastball Classic champion in 2006. While the Broken Bow Spirit have etched their legendary name on the first two tournament trophies, it is a whole new ball game in 2006 !
Pencil in Woodstock, June 2,3 and 4, for the Legends of Fastball Classic.
The summer of 2006 should prove to dispel the rumour that major men’s fastball is a dying sport in Ontario, or for that matter North America. While teams may continue to dissolve and in some cases merge, one thing is constant, the hub of the major tournament wheel will roll through southern Ontario again this year.
With major tournament announcements already placing Monkton and Orillia on most ardent fans “must attend” list this summer, and both the ISC World Tournament and the ISC 2 Tournament of Champions slated for Kitchener in August, the only thing missing to wet the appetites of the games most rabid and knowledgeable fans is the kick off event that sets the tone for all major men’s events in Ontario.
It is with great pleasure that the Legends of Fastball Classic announces its return to Woodstock, June 2,3 and 4, at the beautiful Woodstock and District Community Complex. The Legends event has quietly become a mainstay on the Ontario tournament schedule over the past 3 years, and organizers take great pride in being able to showcase the very best of home grown talent while enticing some of the best of American based teams to make the trek into the dairy capital of Southern Ontario.
The Legends event is unique in many ways. First of all it is headed up by a trio of ex-players in Brian Paton, Chuck Hendricks and Larry Lynch. These three have travelled to major tournaments around the globe and their experience and focus is to put fastball at the forefront of the Legends weekend. Secondly, the concept of honouring “legends of the game” brings the players, builders and characters of bygone eras back to the ball park for one more curtain call on what was certainly their legendary careers. Local radio and television personality Brad Janssen brings class and professionalism to the center of the legends ceremony, and his wife Marg heads up the administrative role of the organizing committee.
The Legends is also unique amongst major Ontario fastball events by focusing on Ontario based teams. The core of the tournament line-up over the past 3 years has been the member teams of the ISC Travel League. This year will be no exception as 4 of the premier clubs will participate including Orillia Riversharks, Innerkip Bright Cheese House Eagles, Kitchener Hallman Twins, and the Jarvis Merchants.
With the ISC returning to Kitchener later this year , Legends organizers are happy to welcome both the 2005 ISC 2 Champion Elmira Cubs and the 2006 host team, the Bridgeport ProForma Braves to the field of participants. Likewise, the reigning Canadian National Champions, the St.Thomas Evergreen Centennials will try to capture their first Legends Classic title after losing out to the Broken Bow Spirit in the finals of the 2005 event.
The Legends Classic has always been an international event and organizers are pleased to welcome back the Midland ( Michigan ) Explorers, Heflin ( New York ) Builders and the New York Patsy’s. Most of the players on these 3 teams have been travelling into Southern Ontario for many years, and fans will certainly recognize a lot of familiar and talented performers over the 3 day event.
The tournament is a 10 team , 2 division round-robin format with the top 3 teams in each division advancing to a single knock-out elimination playoff. The 2 division winners will receive a bye in the first round of the playoff and there will be an immediate cross-over between divisions , with the second place team playing the third place team on the other side. The Championship game will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and will be telecast on the Rogers Cable Network in all of Ontario! Please tune into Rogers Television Cable 22 on June 10 at 8 pm to view/record the game.
Stay tuned for the complete schedule and team profiles over the next few weeks.
One thing is for certain, there will be a new Legends of Fastball Classic champion in 2006. While the Broken Bow Spirit have etched their legendary name on the first two tournament trophies, it is a whole new ball game in 2006 !
Pencil in Woodstock, June 2,3 and 4, for the Legends of Fastball Classic.