2018 LMBA Annual General Meeting
Saturday, November 17, 2018 - Bonsor Centre – Burnaby - 2:30pm – 5:00pm
The 2018 AGM for the Lower Mainland Baseball Association will be held on Saturday, November 17 at the Bonsor Centre in Burnaby – 6550 Bonsor Avenue – 2 blocks south of Nelson and Kingsway (behind Metrotown Centre).
The LMBA Executive will be presenting issues regarding the recently completed 2018 season, conducting Executive elections, and providing information for the 2019 season – the LMBA’s 25th Anniversary season.
There may be a re-structuring of the LMBA Executive and we are looking for some new members – if you are interested in offering your services, please let us know. There are a lot of recent developments in the baseball community and many of them will affect our 2019 organization. If your team plans to play next season, you must have a representative present at this important meeting.
A detailed AGM agenda will be forwarded prior to the meeting. If you have any items that you would like to see included at either the AGM or Divisional level, please forward before November 10th. If your team is not returning for the 2019 season, please let us know.
It has been a very long season – need to see everyone on November 17.
LMBA Executive Meeting
Saturday, November 10 – 10:00am – 2:00pm VanCity – South Slopes Community Branch
7384 Market Crossing, Burnaby
2018 has been a very long and challenging year and the LMBA will need to expedite a transitional phase in its Executive organization. While most current members will be returning for 2019, others have indicated that they will be returning in a diminished role. We will be reaching out to some non-Executive members to join us at the meeting as there is a need to add a few more positions. If you are interested in attending this meeting, please let us know. All aspects of the LMBA’s organization will be covered at this meeting – financial, scheduling, interactions with other baseball groups, divisional structure, communications, umpires, and Executive duties.
A full report from this meeting will be presented at the 2018 AGM on November 17.
2018 LMBA CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
45+ RAY EDGER DIVISION FINAL
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VANCOUVER PIRATES 45+ FOR WINNING THEIR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE LMBA CHAMPIONSHIP IN A GAME PLAYED AT QUEEN'S PARK STADIUM ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH - IN ONE OF THE CLOSEST LMBA FINALS EVER, THE PIRATES CAME FROM BEHIND TWICE TO SCRATCH OUT A 9 - 8 VICTORY OVER A VERY TOUGH WHITE ROCK LEGENDS SQUAD.
The Legends jumped out to a 4 – 0 lead in the first two innings highlighted by a 2 run double by Todd Nadon before Pirates’ Pierre Moore put the Pirates on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the second. Kevin Gordon’s 2 run double in the bottom of the fifth pulled the Pirates within one run before the Legends added two runs in the top of the 7th to take a 6 – 3 lead. Pierre Moore drove in two runs in the bottom of the 7th before the Pirates exploded for 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead for the first time by a 9 – 6 margin. Stuart Holloway’s 2 run, 2 out single brought in the go ahead runs. The Legends struck for two runs in the top of the ninth and left two runners on base as the Pirates hung on for their fifth straight 45+ championship win. Thanks to the umpire crew of Alana Page (home plate) and base umpires Gary Pakosh and Terry O’Krafka for a well officiated game.
BLUE JAYS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT 30+ DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Signs of a long layoff were evident at the LMBA’s 30+ Division championship game between the Burnaby Blue Jays and Howe Sound Hounds. Neither team had played a complete game for over a month due to rain outs and statutory holidays.
Pitchers were well - rested but signs of rust were evident as there were 17 walks handed out during the contest which led to numerous base runners. Blue Jays took advantage of four walks in the bottom of the first inning to jump out to a 2 – 0 lead. A six run fourth highlighted by 2 rbi hits by Kyan Kantor and Rod Van Dorn, Jr. gave the Blue Jays a commanding 8 run lead which proved too much for a game Hounds squad to overcome. Despite issuing 8 walks, the Jays pitching staff of Jordy Cunningham, Jeff Weisgerber, Jeff Ammer, and Mitch Hanna held the Hounds to 4 base hits as the Jays wrapped up their third straight 30+ Division championship (and fifth overall). Thanks to a very competent umpire crew - Pat Cascio (Home Plate) and base umpires Don Sytko and Jerry Tregaskis - great job, guys!
CHIEFS WIN 18+ DIVISION FINAL IN CLOSEST EVER LMBA FINAL
PITCHERS DOMINATE IN CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP TILT
Pitchers were the story as the LMBA's longest season ended with a classic contest between two outstanding teams played at sunny Robert Burnaby on Sunday, October 14th. The Fraser Valley Chiefs edged the Newton Beavers by a 1 - 0 score in the lowest scoring championship final in the LMBA's 24 year history. The win gave the Chiefs their third LMBA 18+ championship following earlier titles in 2013 and 2015.
All five pitchers were outstanding and margin of victory was razor thin. Chiefs Devon Franklin led off the game in the top of the first with a single and stole second before coming home on a single by Jordan Kissock. Chiefs starter Jesse Peters held the Beavers scoreless for the first five innings with a dominant performance - the Beavers only managed two baserunners as Peters struck out 11 batters including 8 in a row.
Beavers Chad Ouelette was also outstanding giving up only 4 hits in his 5 inning stint. Jordan Kissock finished with four strong innings for the Chiefs as he yielded only one hit while striking out 4. Beavers Kane Keating followed Ouelette with two scoreless innings striking out five Chiefs before Michael Caleb finished up with two scoreless innings. The closest the Beavers came to scoring was in the bottom of the sixth when Eythan Goulah tripled but was left stranded.
Congratulations to both teams for an outstanding final - there has never been a 1 - 0 final score in 24 years of playoff championship finals. 25 strike outs, only 4 bases on balls and 8 base hits - both teams played errorless ball. Thanks to the umpire crew of Greg Teasdale (home plate) and base umpires Leo Gauthier and Bill Keegan for a great job.
