Kingston Diamond Dog Awards

It is time to measure the 2011 accomplishments and disappointments of the local baseball season.

Rain washed out most games scheduled in May, forcing the municipality to close all sports fields until June 2^nd, effectively washing out the month long High School schedule and reduced the KASSAA season to a tournament. The Kingston Senior Nine was reminded of their standing in the Limestone City’s hierarchy of recreational sports and entertainment when they applied to the City for an exemption to this ruling and were denied an exemption to open their season at Megaffin Park a day before the ban was to be lifted. The case the Ponies presented to the City was the visiting team had to travel two hours from Ottawa to play the game and league rescheduling might prove to be challenging.

High School baseball has experienced a renaissance the last few years, thanks to the efforts of newspaperman Doug Graham who organized the rebirth of the defunct league and at times, the games are more school spirit and enthusiasm than diamond skills but baseball is baseball and any interest or support this local grand old game can garner is good for the sport.

The Ponies

This season the Junior Ponies made their debut in the Kingston Senior Baseball League and as a group of players making the transition from midget leagues, they had a respectable showing while learning the game from coach and mentor, Tom Carty. The Senior Ponies found some success in the National Capital Baseball League by winning the derby flag of the Nepean Brewers annual tournament, finishing second in the regular season and earning a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The layoff proved disastrous for the team as they sat idle for most of August and when play resumed it was a familiar two and out. Perhaps we expect more from a team with a proud baseball history and “Kingston” in front of its name than a second place finish in another city’s house league. But that’s just our opinion.

The KBA Braves & Kingston Thunder

Drawing on the success of high school baseball, the Kingston Baseball Association once again included a midget house league, providing plate appearances and fielding opportunities for Kingston high school players who otherwise wouldn’t have a place to play. Taking a step closer to minor baseball amalgamation in the Limestone City, the Braves fielded a mosquito and midget EOBA rep team while the Kingston Thunder fielded peewee, minor bantam, and bantam EOBA rep teams. Former KBA president and current bantam Thunder coach Randy Casford was the driving force a few years back to create one unified minor baseball organization. When those attempts failed, the KBA opted out of the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association in 2006 for all age divisions except midget and became a Little League affiliate, effectively erasing boundaries of both Kingston baseball organizations. Before the 2011 season, the KBA announced it would no longer be a Little League affiliate and was partnering with the Thunder in the EOBA rep program. As a result of teaming together the best players in the city regardless of their address, all rep teams except the KBA midget Braves represented Kingston in 2011 on the provincial stage, advancing from the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association playoffs to the Ontario Baseball Association championships.

The Thunder minor bantams were runner up, claiming a provincial silver medal for their efforts against a very strong Brantford Red Sox team. The Red Sox, who play against AAA competition, were the top gun in the A classification, defeating the Thunder 2-0 in the tournament preliminary round and 5-0 in the championship game. The OBA classification criteria are based on an organization and team’s municipal population and not skill level which is interesting to note for comparison purposes, because in the year 2006, the Thunder dropped from the A classification to the B classification and claimed a provincial title while their cross-town rival organization, the KBA Braves, claimed a provincial title in the A classification.

At the end of the season, the purpose of playing the game is to have fun, be competitive and win. The only reason score keepers keep score is to measure success on the field and here is how we measure success on the field:

2011 Diamond Dog Player of the Year

Derek Mack, Kingston Ponies (team ranking)

BA: .439 (1^st)

OBP: .515(2^nd)

SLG: .632 (1^st)

In 20 games played, Mack created 29 runs (17 runs scored and 12 runs-batted-in) during 57 at-bats and had 9 extra base hits (8 doubles, 1 homerun)

2011 Diamond Dog Pitcher of the Year

Brett Gibson, Kingston Ponies

ERA: 0.66

IP: 21.1

ER: 2

H: 15

K: 7

Gibson is the veteran in a staring rotation of young pitchers (John Ivimey, Matt Wing, Kyle Kelsey)

2011 Diamond Dog Team of the Year

Kingston Thunder Minor Bantams

Runner up silver medalists at 2011 Ontario Baseball Association Provincial A Championships.