Monday was a busy day on a number of fronts; the opening of the President’s Cup, Grey Motors United won the York Region Premier Division title, the City Strikers are trying to do likewise in Division 1, the Attack opened rookie camp & David Bell joined the Colts.
Plus, there was the aftermath of the Port Elgin Blue Devils winning the ISC II Fastball Championship on the weekend.
Of all the calls and interviews yesterday, by far, the most enjoyable was with the Blue Devils affable Manager Jim MacKinnon.
Though somewhat fatigued by the events of the week, followed by the lengthy drive home from Illinois & Iowa, MacKinnon fused together the details of the championship and the significance therein.
He cited two major factors in winning the championship.
First, the performance of pitcher Scott Smith who was so durable even as the final day of competition extended into a 4th game for Port Elgin.
And two, the experience of having competed at this event and come close previously to winning meant the Blue Devils had a very good idea of what it took to be champions.
Surprises ?
To me, MacKinnon felt there was little or no connection between the Blue Devils title and that of the WOAA Winterhawks, even with 4 or 5 players being on both championship teams.
And with some thought, MacKinnon doubts the Blue Devils will ascend higher in North American fastball.
They don’t have the budget or financial clout to do so, plus as MacKinnon sees it, winning ISC II is tough enough, and there’s no guarantee in a 1 game shot that any of the teams they vanquished last week couldn’t turn the tables in a rematch.
But for 2009, the ISC II Champions reside in Saugeen Shores at Lakeview Park, the Port Elgin Blue Devils.
I’m Fred Wallace