Change abound as teams organize fastball for season

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The fate of the Women’s Division is up in the air while the Men’s Division appears strong and ready for another season. It was the news coming from the High Prairie Fastball League meeting April 29 when team representatives met at South Peace News. In the Ladies Division, only the Peavine Girlz and a team calling itself Faust/High Prairie attended. No word came from last year’s other two teams - Gift Lake and Whitefish Lake – or any new teams. Because of a lack of teams, it was decided if only three teams entered the league the top two would advance to a best-of-seven final. If more than three teams enter, the semi-final and finals will both be best-of-five series involving the top four teams. Meanwhile, the Men’s Division suffers no lack of interest. Five teams attended the meeting including a team from Driftpile formerly called the Titans, the three-time defending champion Grouard 86’ers, Peavine Boyz, Peavine Rangers and Peavine Young Guns. Gift Lake Sluggers’ coach Glen Laderoute called during the meeting confirming they were entering a team. No word was received from the Peavine Canadians, Sucker Creek Braves or Whitefish Lake Hawks. Last year, Hector Lamouche from Gift Lake was also considering entering a team. The interest prompted governors to increase the number of teams qualifying for playoffs to six if seven or more teams enter the league. The top two teams will receive a bye while the third place team plays sixth and fourth plays fifth in a best-of-three series. The winners advance to the semi-finals and finals, both best-of-five series. The move was endorsed after last year’s Driftpile Titans did not qualify for the playoffs despite a fine 11-5 record. Other meeting highlights were as follows: * Peter Keay of the Grouard 86’er was elected league president by acclamation. Ralph Courtoreille of the 86’ers and Jeff Giroux of Driftpile were later elected league vice presidents. Chris Clegg will continue to keep standings. * Teams decided to give teams until May 9 at 5 p.m. to enter the league. The entry fee is $300 per team with $200 going to the winning team and $100 for awards at the league banquet. If the banquet is not held, the $100 will be returned or left in the league’s bank account and credited to existing teams. It was also decided teams must pay entry fees before their first scheduled game or they are disqualified from further play. Payment of league fees must be dropped off at the South Peace News office in care of Chris Clegg during normal office hours or with Peter Keay. League governors decided to crack down on protests. Teams passed a motion to increase the protest fee to $200 from last year’s $150. However, the protest fee is now non-refundable even if a team wins the protest. The money will be put in the league’s account for the banquet and awards. Teams did not agree unanimously to the suggestion as some governors felt if a team wins a protest they should have money returned. Game times are changed to begin at 7:30 p.m. during the regular season, not playoffs. The exception is doubleheaders at Peavine where games will start at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. as they did last season.

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