Ray Edger 45+ Division Playoff Champions Burnaby Pirates

LMBA 2014 CHAMPIONS

Ray Edger 45+ Division Playoff Champions – Burnaby Pirates

Ray Edger 45+ Division Regular Season Champions – Delta Stars

Pirates Edge Stars in Thrilling Eleven Inning Classic

The LMBA’s senior division championship game needed two extra innings to decide the outcome between two evenly matched teams. The “see-saw” affair provided plenty of thrills for supporters of both teams and eachsquad had several opportunities to decide the outcome. The first nine innings saw good pitching, some clutch hitting and several outstanding defensive plays highlighted by Pirates Aart Van Gorkum’s great catch in deep center field. Shut-down pitching by Stars second pitcher, Doug Simpson, enabled his team to come from behind to tie the game before the teams headed into extra innings. Pirates third pitcher, Rick Morrow, not only pitched five solid innings but he came through with a clutch two run double in the top of the eleventh inning before closing the door on the Stars in the bottom of the inning. The Pirates added another run making the final score 8 – 5 in the first extra-inning final in the eleven year history of the Ray Edger 45+ Division. The division’s traditional MVP award (voted on by the Delta Stars), was awarded to Rick Morrow.

George Pinter Memorial Trophy

The Burnaby Pirates became the inaugural recipient of the George Pinter Memorial Trophy which will now be awarded to the playoff winners of the 45+ Division. George Pinter was a member of the Delta Stars for ten years and a very dedicated youth coach of Ladner minor baseball and soccer teams in addition to being an executive member in both organizations. Following a valiant battle with cancer, George passed away in March, 2014 just prior to the start of our season. Ray Edger, who had started the 45+ Division in 2004, and after whom the playoff trophy was named, graciously suggested re-naming the trophy after George and we were honored to have George’s wife, Tammy, and his two sons present at the final. Stars’ Larry Waddell had some very kind words and Pirates’ Kevin Gordon was very gracious in accepting the trophy. Congratulations to both teams for a competitive and classy affair and thanks to Ray Edger for his continued efforts as division coordinator.

30+ Championship(s)

The LMBA’s 30+ Division playoffs were organized into two tiers with the Tier One championship game featuring the first place Burnaby Blue Jays squaring off with the second place Howe Sound Hounds. Whenever these two teams meet, the game can go either way as evident by the 2013 final which went twelve innings before the Blue Jays claimed their second straight championship. That two year streak came to an end as the heavy-hitting Hounds won the 2014 final by a score of 11 – 6 in a well-attended game at Robert Burnaby Park. Congratulations to Hounds manager Ken Mackenzie who has been in charge of this original team for all eight of their LMBA championship wins.

The Tier Two 30+ final featured the fourth place Surrey Angels hosting the fifth place Burnaby Pirates at Holly Park. The Angels had all parts of their game working as they prevailed by a score of 13 – 4. (Photo Unavailable)

Newton Beavers Claim First LMBA 18+ Title in Close Game With Coquitlam Cardinals

The LMBA’s 281st and final game of the 2014 season featured the two divisional winners Newton Beavers (Mathers Division) and Coquitlam Cardinals (Bunnett Division). The LMBA’s 18+ Division is the most difficult division to come out on top as finalists must win three sudden death playoff games to reach the championship game. Pitching and defense are strong suits for the Beavers who defeated the Newton Royals, North Langley Expos, and Delta Dodgers while the two time LMBA champion (2010, 2012) Coquitlam Cardinals overcame the Richmond Athletics, Maple Ridge J’s, and South Delta Padres to reach the final played on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon at Robert Burnaby Park. As always, this divisional championship is well attended by parents, friends, and this year, by several representatives from other baseball organizations.

The factors which got both teams to the finals were apparent in this tightly played contest. Starting pitchers Mitch Harrington (Cardinals) and Chad Ouelett kept the bats in check for the first five innings, making runs scarce. The Beavers manufactured the necessary runs to prevail by a score of 4 – 2 with Newton closer Joey Gelz dominating the last four innings. Congratulations to both teams for a well-played final which could have gone either way. Several attendees from other baseball organizations were very impressed with the caliber of play and the fact that the nine inning final was played in 2 hours and 5 minutes.

Dennis Riordan, Groundskeeper Extraordinaire

For the past 14 years, hometown Burnaby teams and most other teams in the LMBA have had the pleasure of playing games at Robert Burnaby Park. Most of our championship games have been held at this venue and the diamond was a center piece of the 2010 Canadian National Oldtimers Championships. The baseball diamond has been kept in immaculate condition through the efforts of Dennis Riordan, a long time Burnaby Parks and Recreation Department employee. Dennis will be retiring after 40 years with the city and he put in over 25 years at Robert Burnaby Park (1981 – 1994 and 2001 – 2014). He mentioned that the fill for the playing field was transported from the construction site of Cariboo Secondary School in 1989. He recalls the initial seeding of the field and the construction of the fencing and dugouts as well as the equipment/scorekeeper building and finally the addition of the concession/washroom facility. Besides maintaining the diamond, Dennis was responsible for the rest of the park including the trails and other recreation areas and has encountered varied wildlife including coyotes, raccoons, skunks, bobcats, deer, and the occasional black bear. Dennis did many things above and beyond what the job entailed including lining the field, cleaning the dugouts, and working with LMBA personnel levelling base pads and home plate area as well as helping reconstruct the pitching mound. There are not many parks anywhere better than Robert Burnaby and Dennis’s efforts over the years have been greatly appreciated. The LMBA presented Dennis with a White Spot gift card and we wish him a great retirement. However, we have his number as he has offered any help we might need next year!

LMBA Umpire Developmental Program