OCDFL July 18 2007 ALL-STAR DAY

• Oshawa Minor Fastball (OMF)
• Oshawa Double "B" Sports Club
• Oshawa City and District Fastball League (OCDFL)

The format for the evening included a combined house league Peewee and select (OMF) Squirt Division Prospects Game followed by an OCDFL Home Run Derby and finally the OCDFL All Star Game. For the prospects game, two teams were formed by combining the house league and select players into the Red Team and the Yellow Team. The game was very entertaining with some excellent play from both sides. It was fitting that the game ended in a 7 - 7 draw after 4 innings. The MVPs for the game were A.J. Ballinger from the Red Team and Justin Mole from the Yellow Team.

The Home Run Derby featured some outstanding displays of hitting power with Anthony Paradiso from the Scarborough Royals taking the title with an impressive total of ten home runs. Other notables included Ryan Jaynes with 7, Ryan Swift with 4 and Rino Dambrosio with 3 home runs. Anthony was awarded a new Miken bat for his efforts.

The OCDFL game featured many of the stars of the League. Following are the complete rosters for the North and South Division All Stars.

North Division All Stars

Player	Position	Name	Team
Mgr	Manager	Denis Smith	Bradford Sox
C	Coach	Shelley Gram	Markham Majors
C	Coach	Art Burkholder	Stouffville Mennos
1	Pitcher	Ryan Swift	Bradford Sox
2	Catcher	Matt Swift	Bradford Sox
3	First Base	Brian Schouten	Bradford Sox
4	Second Base	Rich Burkholder	Stouffville Mennos
5	Third Base	Rob Sheard	Bradford Sox
6	Short Stop	Mike Samways	Markham Majors
7	Left Field	Mike Dambrosio
8	Centre Field	Rino Dambrosio	Aurora Shoeless Joe's
9	Right Field	Brenton Sparkes	Newmarket Stingers
10	Alternate	Dale Boadway	Stouffville Mennos
11	Alternate	Chris Boyd	Newmarket Stingers
12	Alternate	Ryan McCluskey	Newmarket Stingers
13	Alternate	Jeff Wilson	Markham Majors
14	Alternate	John Zeiger	Lake Simcoe Lightning
15	Alternate	Todd Hamblin	Lake Simcoe Lightning

South Division All Stars

Player	Position	Name	Team
Mgr	Manager	Jim Trimm	Oshawa Ravens
C	Coach	John Mather	Oshawa Double B Jrs
C	Coach	Chris Popovich	Toronto Celtics
1	Pitcher	Andy Skelton	Scarborough Royals
2	Catcher	Pat Humphries	Oshawa Ravens
3	First Base	Ted Kosciesza	Oshawa Ravens
4	Second Base	Matt DaSilva	Scarborough Royals
5	Third Base	Adam Trimm	Oshawa Double B Jrs
6	Short Stop	Brandon Horne	Scarborough Wolverines
7	Left Field	Tom Watson	Oshawa Ravens
8	Centre Field	Matt Davis	Oshawa Double B Jrs
9	Right Field	Bill Fairney	Toronto Celtics
10	Alternate	Dave Kewin	Oshawa Ravens
11	Alternate	Bruce Viera	Toronto Celtics
12	Alternate	Derek Parent	Oshawa Double B Jrs
13	Alternate	Aaron Trude	Scarborough Royals
14	Alternate	Steve Ketchell	Toronto Celtics
15	Alternate	Conor McTernan	Scarborough Royals

Honourary captains included former OCDFL Executive members Wayne Allen for the North All Stars and Ken Leonard for the South All stars. The game was won by the North Division by a 5 to 2 score. A couple of uncharacteristic errors in the 5th inning proved to be the downfall of the South team as 4 runs were scored. Steve Ketchell was the unfortunate victim and took the loss. Mike Samways from the Markham Majors was the recipient of the North team MVP award for the second year in a row. Mike was 2 for 4 with two stolen bases and a run scored and exhibited some outstanding defensive play at shortstop. Matt Davis from the Oshawa Double B Jrs. Received the MVP award for the South team. Matt went 2 for 2 with a single and a triple and also scored a run. Congratulations to both Mike and Matt for their fine displays.

The League Executive especially wants to thank all of the players for their continued support of the All Star Game through their participation. Many of the young, local players and their families remained to watch the League All Stars and were treated to a great night of Fastball. The objective was to put on an entertaining show with the hope that many of the young players in attendance would consider staying involved in game.

The League Executive also took this opportunity to announce John Sharpe Sr. as the 2007 winner of the Buddy Yahn (formerly Iris Yahn) Memorial Award for his Contribution to Softball for over 25 years. Helen Yahn and her son Phil and Buddy's grandchildren were on hand to make this special presentation.

The umpires donated their services again this year in support of our fundraising efforts for Minor Fastball and the League. The crew of Doug Webster Sr., Brian Riess and Alsie Jack did a great job for both games.

Thanks again to everyone involved for making this year's All Star Game a success. If we as a League, are going to promote and preserve the game of Fastball for the future, showcases such as our annual All Star Game must be preserved. We must continue to attract the youth of today who will become the stars of tomorrow.