As you open The Guardian this morning, the first two games of the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League semifinal between Moncton Mets and Charlottetown Gaudet's Auto Body Islanders should have been played.
The best-of-seven series opened Thursday in Moncton with the Islanders winning 2-0 and moved to Charlottetown Friday night.
The Mets are without their big ace Ben Higgins, who returned to school in Maine, and the Islanders likely will be without Mitch MacLean and Brodie Macdonald who also have off -Island school commitments.
The Islanders are in Moncton Sunday for a 2 p.m. game and are back at home Monday at 4 p.m. at Memorial Field for Game 4.
The Morell Chevies have advanced to the final of the Kings County Baseball League and they'll meet the winner of the semifinal between Peakes Bombers and Stratford Murphy’s Pharmacies Athletics.
Stratford thumped Peakes in Morell on Thursday night to take a 2-1 series lead in their best-of- five series and host Game 3 Sunday at 4 p.m.
These two clubs do not like one another and I’m expecting a big crowd in Stratford.
Fast pitch nationals
The national senior men’s fast pitch championship continues Sunday at Central Field complex in Charlottetown and Friday’s results will decide if the Fawcetts play for a medal of not.
The championship games will go Sunday with the impending hurricane necessitating a playoff schedule change.
Regardless of the weather, Central Field is the place to be on Sunday. While it is true that the Fawcetts could win a medal, and I hope they do, I wouldn’t go comparing this edition of the Fawcetts with the great teams of the 1970s and 1980s.
Aside from Jeff Ellsworth, I’m doubtful if any of today’s starters could catch on with the old Fawcetts. Furthermore, this is in reality an Eastern Canada championship with none of the old power-packed western clubs in the tournament.
Also, back then most provinces had a residency rule which prevented teams from stockpiling imports/mercenaries. Fun as the tournament may be for all fastball fans, let’s not lose sight of the whole story, which you get from the “The Sports Prophet” every Saturday.
On the gridiron
Speaking of ‘hurricanes’, the Holland College Football Hurricanes are in action Sunday at 3 p.m. at the UPEI turf field in a controlled scrimmage against the defending champion UNB Saint John Sea Dogs.
The Hurricanes practised twice daily last weekend and, as always, there’s plenty of surprises. Marcus Dunphy, who starred with Souris in the P.E.I. tackle league, has been sensational as a linebacker and it will be interesting to see how he stacks up against the Sea Dogs
Summerside’s David Arsenault and speedy Charlottetown back Dave Clarke have also been attracting plenty of attention in the early going, but we’ll wait and see how good are these guys.
The National Football League opens Thursday night with Minnesota Vikings visiting New Orleans Saints.
If you’re looking for three teams that will surprise this season include Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams, who can’t help but improve on 1-15, on your list.
The Texans and 49ers will make the playoffs, the Texans may be the best team in Texas, not Dallas, and you’ll see in week three when they tangle.
Picks will be available from “The Sports Prophet” next Saturday.
In the Canadian Football League, the big Labour Day game featuring arch-rivals Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats should be a dandy. The Argos have been a surprise, but you can rest assured the ’Cats will be up for this one.
Around the links
The Mike Kelly Golf Classic drew a full field last Saturday at the Fox Meadow course and the youngsters stole the show.
Colin Younker and Brodie O’Keefe led their team to a 18-under score to walk off with the honours.
The Links at Crowbush Cove club championships were played last weekend and Ian Coffin walked off with top honours. Veteran Walter Bradley led the second division, which is quite a feat because he played 18 holes in the morning in the Mike Kelly Classic.
Len Doucette, one of the favourites in the club championships couldn’t take the heat and finished 82-80.
Peakes native and Morell resident Gavin Kenny posted the low net score in the second division, which means he’s aiming for the top spot next season.
Dr. Billy Scantlebury picked up the trophy for the longest drive at the recent “The Onion” golf tournament at Crowbush in memory of Brian McGuire. Dr. Scantlebury led his Image Works team of Jeff Squires, Rob Barry and Darren Murphy to a top-five finish.
Charlottetown’s Alan Scales made all the key putts as his lawyer team of Gary Scales, Chris LeClair and Geoff Scales finished third overall, two strokes behind the foursome of Alan MacAdam, John MacAdam, Chris MacAdam and Eric MacInnis.
The Wyman team of Lefty Dunn, Terry Kelly, Joey MacDonald and Walter Bradley finished first overall.
At the track
Live harness racing continues tonight at the Charlott etown Driving Park with another top-notch, 12-dash card.
The feature goes in Race 11 and it includes, from the rail out, Hornswoggle, Rymar Chief, Clay Mater, Victory Creed, Yankee Sun, Unfluffnbelievable, San Marco Hanover and Jazzmoe.
In harness racing “up country”, Mohawk offers up a terrific night of entertainment with a power-packed card tonight which can be seen at the CDP via simulcast. The $1-million Metro Pace is the highlight of the card with four divisional winners in a field of 10 starters, including trainer Friday Dean’s Big Jim (Phil Hudon), as well as Prodigal Seelster and Great Vintage. Mark MacDonald has an outside horse in Ohmygosh Hanover.
Mark also drives world champion Pretty Katherine in the $688,000 final of the She’s A Great Lady and Lucky Man in the Canadian Pacing Derby against Hypnotic Blue Chip, Shark Gesture and Won the West.
The opening dash of the card is the $34,000 Preferreds, and it includes three Gold Cup and Saucer horses in Panda Bear, Stonebridge Terror and Power Off, going up against the likes of Kindly Poet, Mr Apples and Major Hottie.
Meridian Farms must be smiling these days as their prized trot stallion Northern Bailey (by Balanced Image) is throwing out winners from his first crop.
Waiting On A Woman set a new CDP track trot record for two-year-olds Thursday in winning the Buddy Campbell Memorial trot in 2:00:4 for owner-trainer Mitch Tierney and driver Cory MacPherson.
Meridian Farms have a number of yearlings by Northern Bailey at the upcoming Maritime yearling sales and at the Oct. 15 sale in Crapaud. I’d check Meridian Farms web page for their complete lineup.
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Fred MacDonald’s column appears in The Guardian each Saturday. He can be reached at fiddlersfacts@hotmail.com.
I agree with the comments above,for freddie to say no one would catch on with the old fawcetts is complete bull. I have been to 12 canadian championships and seen alot of great ball players . having played with guys like Chris Craig and steve larter,they can play with any team in any era. the reason freddie does not know this is because he has never been to a game because knowone has left him free tickets.in ending I will be proud to wear my medal and be one of the 20 guys who played there hearts out in front off great pei fans. freddie can call me if he wants to see what a medal looks like Jamie Macdonald