OK guys, you wanted minutes, here you go!

 

Greater Ottawa Fastball League organizing meeting March 1 at Stittsville Main St. Pub

 

Attendees:

Adam Brown (WC Electric)

Tony Riches (Lomor Printers)

Dave Tubman (Team Easton)

Kevin Chevrier (Team Easton)

Sam Oliver (Stittsville 56ers)

Scott Dumouchel (Ottawa Blitz)

Jim Blakely (Ottawa Blitz)

Neil Cooke (I4C Consulting)

Shawn Williams (I4C Consulting)

 

·        Bob Templeton couldn’t attend the meeting, but indicated that he was willing to stay on as president and be available to arbitrate any disputes that may arise.

·        All four teams from the 2005 season are returning.

·        Two new teams have committed for 2006:  Ottawa Blitz and I4C Consulting. Both teams were welcomed to the league. 

·        Pakenham had indicated interest in joining the league but did not attend the meeting. Prior to the meeting team contact Dwayne Cameron indicated that they were looking for pitching.  Their entry will depend on their ability to find another pitcher.

·        Home diamonds and nights are as follows:

o       West Carleton Electric:  Fitzroy Harbour on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8:30pm

o       Lomor Printers: Manotick on Wednesday nights at 8:00pm

o       Stittsville 56ers: Stittsville on Wednesday nights at 8:30pm

o       Team Easton: May & June: Stittsville on Wednesday nights at 8:30pm; July - Sept: Stittsville on Tuesday nights at 8:00pm

o       Ottawa Blitz: Manotick on Wednesday nights at 8:00pm

o       I4C Consulting: Negotiating with Carp and Richmond for diamond time.  Looking to book Thursday nights.  Shawn to confirm.

·        Regular season will begin the second week of May, running until the first week of August, after which playoffs will start.

·        Assuming a 6-team league, each team will play each other 3 times for a 15 game schedule.  If a 7^th team were added, this would result in an 18 game schedule.

·        Fitzroy Harbour is looking to potentially host a ‘Showcase’ day again on a weekend where each team would play and the games would count in the standings.

·        If a team needs to cancel a game due to lack of players, as much notice as possible should be given to the opposing team’s coach/captain.  If a visiting team fails to show up with enough players or cancels too late to notify the umpires, then the visiting team will pay for the officials’ fees.

·        Game reports can be sent to Adam at Adam.Brown@ottawa.ca the next day so the website can be updated.  Report should at a minimum include the score, the winning & losing pitchers and any home runs hit.  Additional information (box scores, further details, etc.) is appreciated and will be posted.

·        Each team is responsible for their diamond fees, umpire costs, balls, etc.  One new ball and one good second used ball to be provided by the home team for each game.

·        Each team will contribute $100 to the playoff fund, with the prize money going to the playoff champion.  Neil offered to purchase a trophy for the league and include past winners. (see end of minutes)

·        Playoff format (assuming 6 teams):

o       1^st and 2^nd place get a bye to the semi-finals. 

o       3^rd plays 6^th and 4^th plays 5^th in best-of-three series. 

o       Lowest seed advancing plays the 1^st place team and the other team advancing plays the 2^nd place team in the best-of-five semi-final. 

o       Two teams advancing play in the best-of-five final.

o       Playoff champion plays UOVMFL champion in ‘home and home’ series (assuming UOVMFL wishes to continue with Regional Final concept).

·        If the seventh team joins, playoff format will need to be decided but could be either:

o       6^th plays 7^th in one game ‘play in’ round

OR

o       2^nd vs. 7^th, 3^rd vs. 6^th, 4^th vs. 5^th, 1^st gets a bye to semi-finals

·        It was decided that with a league of six teams that the full interlock with the Upper Ottawa Valley Men’s Fastball League was no longer desired.  Note that the UOVMFL may ask to have a showcase day with teams from their league playing ours in games that may or may not count in the standings depending on how things work out.

·        Tony offered to order balls for the league.  To conform with the balls chosen by the ISC, we will use the Worth Dream Seam ball.  Cost is about $100/dozen.  

o       Adam will get three dozen

o       Sam and Kevin will share three dozen

o       Scott will get three dozen

o       Shawn will get two dozen

·        Umpires will be scheduled through George Finlay.  The schedule will be sent to George and he will assign officials.  If there are any changes to the schedule (i.e. rain outs, make up games, changes to games) it is up to the home team to notify George at xxx-xxxx.  Cost is $42 x 2 = $84 per game and home team is responsible. 

·        Teams will be allowed to start games with 8 players.  There will be no “auto-out”.  If the ninth player shows up late (or a lucky fan is found), then the team can insert this player in the ninth position in the lineup.  However, if a team has 9 players and one is ejected, the team will then default the game.

·        Games in regular season are 7 innings long and can end in a tie.  If by mutual consent of the teams, a mercy rule may be enacted if there is 6 run lead after 5 innings or a 5 run lead after six innings.

·          Past league playoff champions for the Greater Ottawa Fastball League:

o         2000 Lomor Printers defeated Macton Muckdogs (3-0)

o         2001 Macton Muckdogs defeated DTI (3-1)

o         2002 Lomor Printers defeated Macton Muckdogs (3-0)

o         2003 Team Easton defeated Macton Muckdogs (1 game final)

o         2004 Team Easton defeated West Carleton Electric (3-1)

o       2005 Team Easton defeated Stittsville 56ers (3-1)