The 3 Cheers Pub / Bud Light Senior Men’s Fastpitch Club are looking to regain the John Gorman Memorial Trophy, emblematic of Senior Men’s Fastpitch supremacy in this province, this weekend as the tournament moves outside of the capital city for the first time since 2001 in Bay Roberts. 3 Cheers claimed the title most recently in 2010 only to lose it to Imagewear Custom Apparel in last year’s final.
While there is no designated “Host” team for the event, 3 Cheers are counting on the crowd getting behind them in Dunville. “When you look at our roster, it is littered with guys from that area” says playing assistant coach Lee Cose. “We have Sheldon Keefe, Steven Pittman, Paul Maher, and Billy Patterson playing with us this weekend. Mike O’Keefe has played some games with us this year too. I feel like we should be wearing blue and red,” Cose says with a smile, referring to the traditional colors of Placentia minor softball teams. The Placentia area connections do not stop there as the team’s major sponsor hails from the area as well as team co-founder Stephen Mullaley of Freshwater who has since moved to Ontario for work.
When asked about playing the tournament in Dunville instead of at Lions Park in St. John’s, where the tournament has found a regular home for the last few years, 3 Cheers Head Coach John Hill was very excited. “Placentia is the birthplace for the game in our province. Some of the best players, coaches, and teams in the history of our game have come out of there. It was always exciting to play there as a player and I look forward to it every time I come back as a coach. All of our players have come through the minor and junior systems in the province and they all feel the same way. It’s exciting to play in Dunville because you know you are getting a knowledgeable, passionate crowd out to the games.”
Coming off an Intermediate Provincial win with Lafontaine Club this past weekend in Corner Brook, Pittman, Maher, and Patterson will be expected to be key contributors to the effort. “The best way to describe the guys from Placentia is that they are ‘gamers’- you can count on them,” said Cose when asked to describe Pittman, Maher, Keefe, and Patterson. Cose continued, “Sheldon is on par with any centrefielder in Canada in terms of his defensive ability and he has been a key guy for us in the leadoff spot all year.”
After taking a couple of years away from the team, Maher is back full time in his role as shortstop. “Paul Maher is a calming influence on the infield. He makes the plays he is supposed to make and some that he shouldn’t. His bat has been coming around recently with some key home runs for us.”
The fiery Steven Pittman missed a lot of time due to work commitments at the start of the season, but he has been back with the team in July and is making a huge impact. “Pitty is an emotional leader and a quality outfielder. We were missing him when he wasn’t there, that’s for sure. Look for him to play the corner outfield positions and be a rally starter in the batter’s box.”
A senior league rookie, Patterson has cemented himself as the starting first baseman with some excellent defensive work. “Billy has been great on first base for us all year. His quick hands and reaction time give the rest of our infield the added confidence to make tough plays.”
3 Cheers Pub / Bud Light open their schedule at 12 noon on Saturday against the winner of a Friday night game between Bull & Finch and Imagewear Custom Apparel. Their second game will depend on the outcome of the first, but will either be 2PM or 4PM
The full roster, with hometown, for 3 Cheers Pub Bud Light for the 2012 Senior Men’s Provincial Fastpitch Championship is listed below:
#3 Billy Patterson 1B Placentia, NL
#4 Shane Gamberg 2B St. John’s, NL
#5 Travis Rideout UT CBS, NL
#6 Kyle Ezekiel C Harbour Main, NL
#7 Paul Maher SS Freshwater, NL
#8 Matthew Hill OF St. John’s, NL
#9 Sheldon Keefe CF Placentia, NL
#10 Jason Hill P/UT St. John’s, NL
#12 Mark Lewis 3B Marysvale, NL
#20 Wayne Bruce OF Holyrood, NL
#21 Kris Abbott 3B/DP Portugal Cove, NL
#23 Trevor Carew C/OF Portugal Cove, NL
#32 Lee Cose P Ferryland, NL
#33 Stephen Pittman OF Dunville, NL
#16 John Hill Coach St. John’s, NL
Junior Bruce Manager Placentia, NL
.jpg)
