It was home run night at Rosalea Park in
Brampton as two all-star teams from the Mississauga
Fastball League took on the 1997 American
Champion and 1996 & 1998 ISC World Champion
Tampa Bay Smokers in a doubleheader on Tuesday July 14. This
is the second trip to town for the Smokers
who took on the MFL All-Stars in a doubleheader
last year as well. Click here for photos from the 1997 game.
The two teams combined for eight long
balls
on the night, including an absolutely
towering
two-run moonshot by Boomer Brush in
the first
game which nearly cleared the trees
in left
field - which are located approximately
300
feet from the plate. Boomer's ball
probably
traveled close to 400 feet. Many said
it
was one of the longest home runs they
had
ever seen.
About 500 people came out on a gorgeous night
- still in the mid-20s well after 11 pm -
the see the local squads take on the Smokers.
With Darren Zack on the mound in the first
game, the atmosphere was electric and the
Z-Man didn't disappoint.
Darren hit a high of 129 kilometres per hour
on the radar gun while striking out 14, giving
up only two hits -- a solid single to Matt
Barry of the Mississauga Chiefs and a high
infield chopper to Troy Marsh of the Brampton
Brewers.
Darren, always an ambassador for the game,
also pitched to three contest winners in
between the second and third innings of game
two. Gary Corbeil, who is by chance a cousin
of Darren's, John Getty and 60-year-old Gord
Newman had their numbers pulled from among
the dozens who bought tickets for the chance
to experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
of an at bat against the best in the game.
On the line was a commemorative Toronto
Blue
Jays pin set graciously donated by
event
sponsor Labatt Breweries for anyone
who managed
to hit a fair ball.
Corbeil surprised everyone, including
himself,
when he yanked the second pitch foul,
but
ended up striking out. Getty also gave
it
his best shot, but was never really
close.
Newman, a fixture at local ball parks
and
a director of the ISC Travel League
of Eastern
Canada, offered Darren the contents
of his
wallet, which drew roars of laughter
from
the enthusiastic crowd, but it was
to no
avail as he also went down swinging.
Gary Corbeil yanks one foul
John Getty at the plate
Gord Newman couldn't bribe Darren
The Smokers started slowly in game one.
Rich Miaskowski Sr. of the Brampton
Brewers
started for the MFL All-Stars
and sat Tampa
down in order in the first two
innings. Miaskowski
Sr., who hit a high of 116 km/h,
ran into
trouble in the third, though,
as catcher
Todd Garcia hit an infield single,
went to
second on an error and was sacrificed
to
third by third baseman Rob Watson.
Garcia then stunned everyone
by stealing
home for the game's first run.
Rich Miaskowski Sr.
Third inning action as Rich Miaskowski Jr.
gets set to throw out Tampa third baseman
Rob Watson on a sacrifice bunt.
Palermo's Larry Withnell swings and misses
at a Darren Zack riseball clocked at 129
km/h!
Glenn Inglehart
Glenn Inglehart, of Burlington Palermo, took
the mound in the fourth for the MFL All-Stars.
He was victimized by some sloppy fielding,
giving up two unearned runs, one each in
the fourth and fifth before the wheels fell
off in the sixth.
Right fielder Rob Gray started
the inning
with a single. Garcia reached
on a fielder's
choice and both scored on a two-RBI
double
by Watson. DP Brian Macguire
singled in Watson
and then scored on a home run
by second baseman
Jason Hanson who took Tim Lamers
first pitch
out of the park.
Tim Lamers
Lamers, also with Palermo, then struck out
shortstop David Boys, gave up a single to
first baseman Trent Rubley and then Boomer
Brush came up. The ball is probably still
in orbit! After center fielder Shawn Rychick
grounded out to first, Rob Gray hit a line
drive home run to left to complete the scoring.
Rob Gray - two homers
More action from Game One
The game one final was 11-0 for the Smokers
who pounded out 11 hits.
Prior to the start of game two, a moment
of silence was held for Percy "Pops"
Gibbons who passed away at age 82 on
July
2. Gibbons was the trainer for the
World
Champion Toronto Gators in 1993 and
NAFA
Champion Scarborough Royals in 1996.
A number
of players, both on the Smokers and
in the
MFL, had the pleasure of being coached
by
Gibbons over the years. He will be
sorely
missed.
The second game started off much the
same
way the first ended for the Smokers.
With last year's MFL MVP Greg "Dizzy"
Edwards of the Mississauga Mudcats
starting
for the All-Stars, number two hitter
Boys
homered to put Tampa up 1-0 in the
top of
the first.
It was a lead that wouldn't last.
Chris Wilson
Chris Wilson, who is pitching for the Long
Beach Painters this year, was on the mound
for the Smokers subbing for the injured Todd
Martin. Tragically, Chris was killed in a car accident
in September 1998. He is fondly remembered
for his competitive spirit..
Doug Cash of Streetsville Sports opened the
bottom half of the first with a single and
moved to second on a passed ball. After two
strikeouts, Cash scored on a single by Fred
Clyke of the Mudcats who stole second but
was stranded. With Edwards holding the Smokers
at bay for the rest of his three-inning stint,
Duncan Kosziwka of the Mississauga Chiefs
homered in the bottom of the second to put
the All-Stars on top 2-1.
Doug Cash
That lead didn't last either.
Boomer Brush and Shawn Rychick greeted Chiefs'
pitcher David Bakker with back to back home
runs in the top of the fourth to make it
3-2 for the Smokers. With two out, three
consecutive singles by Watson, Maguire and
Hanson made it 4-2.
But, that lead didn't last either.
In the home half of the fourth, Bakker led
off with a single, Kosziwka reached on an
error and both scored on a two-RBI double
by Chiefs' catcher Tom Fortune, who was in
turn cashed in by Don Chillman of Streetsville
Sports. After four, it was 5-4 for the MFL
All-Stars.
Surprise, but that lead wouldn't last.
In the top of the fifth, Brush singled and
Rychick reached on an error. A single by
Gray tied the game at five. After Garcia
walked, an RBI single by Watson to score
Rychick put Tampa in front to stay.
Trent Rubley batting, Tom Fortune catching
Still with none out and with Lyle Reynolds
of Streetsville Sports now on the mound,
Maguire reached on an error and was erased
on a fielders' choice at second. Hanson popped
out to second and Boys walked, advancing
to second on a passed ball. Rubley singled
to Clyke in left but a strong throw home
got Boys at the plate for the final out.
Game two action - Blair Setford at third,
Doug Cash at short
In the sixth, Brush singled, scoring on a
double by Rychick who came around on Gray's
second home run of the night.
The game two final was 11 - 5. Tampa put
up 13 hits including four home runs while
the MFL All-Stars counted seven hits off
Wilson who struck out nine.
The Chiefs' Duncan Kosziwka was named the
MFL MVP while Todd Garcia and Rob Gray shared
MVP honours for the Smokers. They each received
a commemorative Toronto Blue Jays pin set.
Todd "Wolfie" Garcia
Special thanks go to sports radio The FAN 590 which had their sports cruiser at the game
and provided live updates throughout the
night and to event sponsor Labatt Breweries which provided T Shirts for giveaways as
well as the MVP prizes.
Thanks also to the volunteers who worked
the gate, the beer garden and sold tickets
during the game and thanks to Peter Porcelli
Jr. and the Smokers organization for helping
to make the evening memorable for everyone.
While it wasn't planned this way, foul balls
ended up being kept by many of the children
in the crowd and the Smokers, particularly
Zack and Martin, were kept busy signing balls,
hats and T-shirts all night.
Close to 30 MFL players from seven of the
eight league teams saw action on the night
and all of them were impressed by the congeniality
and genuiness of the Smokers.
The Smokers have an awesome lineup in 1998,
featuring nine players who will suit up for
Canada and the U.S.A. in the Pan-Am Games
Qualifying Tournament to be held in Venezuela
in August.
Wearing the Maple Leaf are:
Todd Martin - Pitcher
Todd King - 3B
Rob Gray - OF
Brian Paton - OF
Terry Baytor - Coach
Bongo Baird - Trainer
Donning the Stars & Stripes are:
Doug Sleep - Pitcher
Trent Rubley - 1B
Barry Kahler - OF
Scott Deuel - OF
Shawn Rychick - OF
"These numbers represent a higher percentage
of players on their respective national teams
than any other major fastball team in North
America," says Tampa owner/manager Peter
Porcelli Jr. "The Smokers are proud
to have these players represent their countries."
The following players represented the MFL
on two separate All-Star Teams:
1B
Ron Mitchell
- Brewers
Mike Cooke
- Steelers
Mario Celenza
- Mudcats
Rich Dawe
- Chiefs
2B
Duncan Kosziwka
- Chiefs
Greg Stevens
- Brewers
Tyler Newman
- Mudcats
SS
Doug Cash
- Streetsville
Matt Barry
- Chiefs
3B
Rich Miaskowski Jr.
- Brewers
Blair Setford
- Chiefs
Tim Thompson
- Streetsville
OF
Fred Clyke
- Mudcats
Don Chillman
- Streetsville
Neal Curtis
- Palermo
Rich Dafoe
- Gators
Joe Beamish
- Palermo
John Wickham
- Mudcats
Troy Marsh
- Brewers
P
David Bakker
- Chiefs
Glenn Inglehart
- Palermo
Tim Lamers
- Palermo
Rich Miaskowski Sr.
- Brewers
Greg Edwards
- Mudcats
Lyle Reynolds
- Streetsville
C
Tom Fortune
- Chiefs
Larry Withnell
- Palermo
Peter Kluszczynski Jr.
- Brewers
Stan Rozak
- Mudcats
Gary Corbett
- Gators
Coach:
Ed Pupulin
- Chiefs
Umpires:
Peter Kluszczynski Sr.
Ken Marchand
Mike Currie
Brian McLean
Darryl Way
For more Smokers photos and hi-lites from
the 1997 games, click here.
Photos by Bob Pinkney
Tampa Bay Smokers return to burn!
