Manotick wins AA senior championship (new)

By Gerry Desormeau
BayToday.ca
Monday, September 06, 2004

Mike Branchaud swings the bat with authority.
Next year, he’ll add his pitching prowess to the world senior men’s fastball tournament in North Bay.
Branchaud, who is 39 years old, clubbed a long home run and double and was a key figure on the winning run as Manotick Lomor Printers won the 18th annual AA division championship Sunday at Troy Field.
Branchaud was at bat with runners on third and second in the bottom of the fifth and Cold Springs Cats were not about to pitch to him.
Especially with the scored tied 2-2.
An intentional walk was called and Cats pitcher Gary Vowles threw the first one too close for comfort.
The ball just missed being called a strike by plate umpire Lui Ricci.
Vowles threw a second ball and then on the third, his pitch sailed over catcher Mike McCaw’s glove, hit one of the posts on the back screen and bounced up the third base line.
Third baseman Mike O’Hearn fielded the ball as pinch runner Don Cox raced down the line for home.
Cox slid home safely as McCaw attempted to make the tag, giving the Printers a 3-2 win.
Now back to Branchaud.
He’s had quite a career in fastball including a stint from 1994-1999 with the famed Eddie Feigner and The King and His Court.
“That was quite the experience,” he said. “I caught, pitched, played first and also shortstop. It was a great time.”
It’s reputed Branchaud can pitch with the best of them.
He’ll be 40 by the time the 19th annual rolls around, the required age to pitch in the tournament.
Cold Spring, situated just outside Cobourg, struck first with two runs in the top half of the first on McCaw’s single.
Manotick pitcher Scott Nicholl then settled down and allowed four hits the rest of the way.
In the fourth, Vowles was sailing along on a one-hitter when Cox singled.
Branchaud then unloaded a line drive home run over the centre field fence to tie it up.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Reno Rushford singled and Clark Christie followed with a single.
Vowles retired the next two batters bringing Branchaud to the plate.
Three pitches later, the game was over.
“I think his (Vowles) first pitch set up the third,” Branchaud said. “It was really close to the plate and made him think. It shows anything can happen.
“We had some tough games in this tournament, “ Branchaud said. “In fact, we had to come back to win in our last four games.”
Manotick won three straight in their division and then won four playoff encounters.
“It’s great to come and play in this tournament,” he said. “The guys play for the love of the game.”
Several team members including Branchaud have been in other North Bay tournaments, but with different teams.
“This is the first time we came here together,” he said.
The Printers play in the Kemptville Area Men’s Fastball League, a competitive intermediate loop.
They finished first in the league schedule with a 12-3-1 record and are currently in the playoffs.
Pitcher Steve McGillis of the Printers could sympathize with Vowles.
“That first pitch may have spooked him a little bit,” McGillis, who pitched five of the seven games, said. “He may have tried too hard to get the ball away from the plate.”
As far as the tournament, McGillis also feels it’s getting better.
“Some of us have been here before with other teams and I can tell you the talent is getting better and better,” he said. “And all of the teams are polite. There are a lot of good sports, both young and old.”
Branchaud was named his team’s player of the game and McCaw earned the selection for the Cats, who ended Oshawa Ravens’s three-year reign as champs in the quarterfinals.
In the A final, Colin Ryerse hit a three-run home run in the first inning to propel Nottawa to a 6-3 win over Manitoulin Island.
Lyle McIntyre was the winning pitcher and Glenn Duncanson took the loss.
Ryerse was his team’s player of the game and Ken Noland picked up the honours for Maniloulin Island.
The tournament, hosted by the North Bay Men’s Senior League, will be looking for a new co-chairman next year.
Jack Green is stepping down and Dave Cerisano, a member of the tournament committee, thanked him for all of his hard work over the years.
Green and Bob Alkins were this year’s co-chairmen.
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Complete tournament results will be posted at www.eteamz.com/omf later today.