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HIGH ACHIEVERS: Stay-Safe Edition
COVID-19 played havoc with the men& #39;s fastpitch leagues this summer. Some leagues cancelled their schedules. Others waited and played a late season. One pitcher played and wondered. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
COVID-19 played havoc with the men& #39;s fastpitch leagues this summer. Some leagues cancelled their schedules. Others waited and played a late season. One pitcher played and wondered. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
Pitcher Joran Graham greatly appreciated the work of Matt Greer and the Shawville R.A. to stage the two-month Shawville Men& #39;s Fastpitch League regular season and playoffs. But he also had something else on his mind. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
Playing for the Trudeau Collision Brewers, the top-level pitching of @jorangraham shone in the playoffs and in the 8-2 win over Gannon/Blackburn Electric Bucks in the championship final. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
But what if the pandemic never slapped us in the face and the world was normal. If that were the case, @jorangraham would likely have learned if he had made the grade to be named to the Canadian men& #39;s fastball team. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada
In late October, 2019, @SoftballCanada named 44 players to its men& #39;s national team athlete pool and @jorangraham was a surprise selection. At age 30, he thought his days for national-team consideration were history. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch
@jorangraham played for Canada as a pitcher and designated hitter in the 2008 world junior championships in Whitehorse, Yukon, and earned a silver medal. For the past 12 years, he has been a quality league and tournament player. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada
The first player from Micksburg, ON., to be considered for the national men& #39;s team, @jorangraham is truly motivated to make the most of what is likely his one and only chance to play for the No. 4 world-ranked squad. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada
Having a chance to play in a 9-week regular season plus playoffs in Shawville Men& #39;s Fastpitch League was a blessing for @jorangraham. He kept his game sharp, hoping to get a positive call from @SoftballCanada, which cancelled national team plans. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch
The @SoftballCanada men& #39;s national team athlete pool includes 15 players from the 2019 squad, which won the bronze medal at the world championships. @jorangraham is one of eight first-time players named to the athlete pool. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch
The pennant-winning Brewers stormed into the Shawville league final. @jorangraham pitched back-to-back shutouts in the double elimination playoffs, defeating Tubman Autobody Twins 9-0 and Gannon/Blackburn Electric Bucks 1-0. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada
His pitching performance against the Bucks was masterful, tossing a no-hitter, walking only one and striking out 20. Losing pitcher Gregg Garrity also had impressive numbers _ a one-hitter, 15 Ks, three walks. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
The no-hitter also earned @jorangraham Player of the Week honours on the Outside The Chute podcast for fastpitch enthusiasts. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @outsidethechute
It& #39;s too bad the region& #39;s fastball fans couldn& #39;t watch @jorangraham and the other Shawville league players as Outaouais health directives banned anyone from attending the games because of the pandemic. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
Meanwhile, the Glen Cairn Men& #39;s Fastball League celebrated its 50th anniversary with a bubble loop of 4 12-player teams and 2 umps in August and September. Doubleheaders were played each Tuesday night for six weeks. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
Jefferson Roman and Wilmer Lovera hit home runs and Kevin Daize was the winning pitcher as Don Cherry& #39;s used some late offence to rout Wild Wings 13-2 in the championship game. Don Cherry& #39;s led 3-2 after 5 innings. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
The Orleans Men& #39;s Fastball League championship will be decided later this week, when pennant-winning White will face Orange, and Blue takes on Red in the B final. Jeff Barber of Orange was named regular season MVP. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
The pandemic forced organizers to cancel the Greater Ottawa Fastball League and Blackburn Men& #39;s Fastball League seasons as well as Canadian U23 men& #39;s Fastpitch Championship, which will be held July 27-Aug. 1 in Carp. @fitzroyfastball @shawfastpitch @SoftballCanada @jorangraham
Coming up Wednesday, Oct. 7, HIGH ACHIEVERS: Stay-Safe Edition will give you an update on the status of the 2021 Ottawa Sports Awards Dinner. @OttSportsAwards
