The long running Dist. 69 Mixed Slo-Pitch League wrapped up its season recently, as teams in three divisions took to the field for their respective playoffs.
According to longtime player and league president Tim Desmarais, the local league had some 350 players this year divided into 22 teams this year, with six teams in the A Division, 12 in the B, and four in the C.
The league, which has players as young as 15 all the way up to 60+, has been around since the 70s.
“I started playing after I got back from college so probably since around ‘82,” Desmarais, 50, and a BSS grad, said when asked how long he’s been part of it, then dated himself when he recalled “the first team I played on was the George Inn Fury.”
The league he added “was up and running successfully before I came along,” and pointed out “our league has set up a recurring bursary at Ballenas and Kwalikum in the name of one of our original presidents, Mike Clark, who passed away quite a few years ago.”
BATTERS UP! The Rage won the A Division regular season at 20-2; the Shockers won the B at 17-5, and the Undertakers, a first year team made up primarily of PGOSA members and sponsored by Yates Funeral Services, won the C.
To get more variety during the regular season each division also plays against teams in the division above and below it.
In the playoffs, each division had a round robin during the week and ended with the finals on Sunday.
Played out all fields throughout Oceanside the playoffs started July 10 and ended July 14 with the finals held at QB Rec Fields.
In the finals, The Rowdies knocked off the Minkies, one of the oldest teams in the league, 13-9, to claim the A Division playoff trophy.
In the B Division new team The 10 of Diamonds clipped the Coasters 12-11 in a thriller.
The game was tied after six innings and the Diamonds’ got the winning run across in the bottom of the seventh and final inning.
“It was an exctiing game,” confirmed Desmarais.
The Undertakers thumped the Wallbangers in the C final.
In the end, “it was a good season,” said the prez. “Nice weather well maintained ball fields.”
