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Greater Ottawa Fastball League organizing
meeting
Attendees:
Adam Brown (WC Electric)
Tony Riches (Lomor Printers)
Dave Tubman
(Team
Kevin Chevrier
(Team
Sam Oliver (Stittsville 56ers)
Derrick Bulley (
Neil Cooke (I4C Victory)
Shawn Williams (I4C Victory)
Eric Rosenquist (I4C Victory)
Joe McCleary
(Quyon Flyers)
Matt Greer (Quyon Flyers)
Jeff Langford (
Lukas Kamps (
Harry & Alain (Umpires Association)
Note: Bob Templeton couldn’t attend
the meeting, but indicated that he was willing to continue as President and be
available to arbitrate any disputes that may arise.
o
The Umpires association
appeared and presented some of their concerns:
·
The league RIC is to be
determined – the name will be provided when available. There will be a
“letter of understanding” to be signed to set out ground rules and a book
created will all league information.
·
The noted that Monday
and Wednesday were difficult nights and encouraged the league to avoid these
nights where possible.
·
They indicated that
doubleheaders where possible would be preferable and the league agreed to
accommodate when diamond time permitted.
·
Umpire fees for 2007 are
to be determined
·
George Finlay will schedule umpires, and be the contact for
rainouts and make up games. The league will supply the schedule to George
and the UIC for scheduling. Any make up games / cancellations
will be the responsibility of the home team.
·
The Umpires will be
looking for payment up front, as per last year. Each team will send post
dated cheques, terms to be determined.
·
Harry suggested a
centralized bank account / constitution for the league – the League discussed
and determined they did not wish to go forward with this approach for 2007.
·
The new “illegal bat”
list from Softball
·
Harry provided his
contact information – 613-737-5023 (home), 613-447-0328 (cell), and email ricmac1410@hotmail.com.
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All six teams from the
2006 season are returning.
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Three new teams have
committed for 2007: Quyon Flyers, Orleans Gators and Ottawa Valley
Raiders. All teams were welcomed to the league.
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Home diamonds and nights
are as follows:
·
West Carleton Electric:
·
Lomor Printers: Manotick on Wednesday nights
·
Stittsville 56ers: Stittsville on Wednesday nights
·
Team
·
·
I4C Victory: Carp on Thursday nights
·
Quyon Flyers: Quyon on Tuesday nights
·
·
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Regular season will
begin the week of May 7, running for 12 weeks until the week of July 23
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Teams will play an
unbalanced schedule of 20 games. 18 games will be played throughout the
12 week regular season. 2 games will be played in a “Showcase Weekend”
setting, tentatively scheduled for the first weekend in June in Quyon.
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Adam will draft a
schedule once home nights are determined.
o
If a team needs to
cancel a game due to lack of players, 24 hour notice should be given to the
opposing team’s coach/captain. Less than 24 hours will result in a
forfeit. 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.
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Game reports can be sent
to Adam the next day so the website and blog can be
updated. Report should at a minimum include the score, the winning &
losing pitchers and any home runs hit. Each team is encouraged to keep a
detailed box score for posting. Lukas offered to create a new website for
the league. Adam will continue to update the blog.
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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.
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Each team will
contribute $100 to the playoff fund, with $600 going to the playoff champion
and $300 going to the finalist. The I4C Trophy (thanks Neil) will be
awarded to the Playoff Champion.
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Playoff format:
·
8th place
hosts 9th place in single “play-in” game (played as close to July 30th
as possible)
·
Quarter-Finals,
best-of-three: 1st vs. Qualifier from above, 2nd
vs. 7th, 3rd vs. 6th, 4th vs. 5th
(goal is to complete by August 9th)
·
Semi-Finals,
best-of-five: Top remaining seed vs. Lowest remaining seed, 2nd
remaining seed vs. 3rd remaining seed (goal is to complete by August
31st)
·
Finals, best-of-five:
Remaining two teams (goal is to start Sept 4 and complete in two weeks)
·
Head to head competition will be the
first criteria for tie-breaking between two teams in the regular season
standings. Further tie-breaking criteria and tie breaking criteria for multiple
teams to be determined.
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Tony will order balls
for the league. The league will conform to whatever balls are chosen for
the ISC II Tournament of Champions. Tony will talk to Blair Setford
of the ISC and then get prices. Each team to determine the number of
balls they need and make arrangements to pay Tony.
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League rule: 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
line-up. However, if a team has 9 players and one is ejected, the team
will then forfeit the game.
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Mercy rule: Games
in regular season are 7 innings long and can end in a tie. There are no
time limits. If by the losing team wishes to concede, a mercy rule may be
enacted if there is 6 run lead after 5 innings or a 5 run lead after six
innings and the game shall be deemed complete. However if the
losing team does not wish to concede, then the game will still
continue. This also applies in playoffs.
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There are no
restrictions to team rosters. Teams can use whatever players they
wish. However, once a player participates in the league for one team, he
cannot play for another team in the league that season.
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Playoff extra
innings: If a playoff game is tied, the ‘international rule’ shall begin
in the 8th inning.
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The teams agreed to join the ISC II
Home League program and the GOLF will send a representative(s) to the Eastern
Ontario Challenge Cup in August 2007. Teams will be offered the invite
spot(s) based on regular season standings.
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Update: