Far too many teams qualify for IBL playoffs

Baseball league permits all eight teams to participate in playoffs

By Mark Schadenberg

In a previous life, I was manager of the Woodstock junior Navy Vets baseball team in Junior InterCounty.

A few years later, and for about five summers, I had the privilege of doing play-by-play for London Majors baseball for Rogers TV in the InterCounty loop (IBL). Sometimes I was the only person in the booth -- akin to Vin Scully.

With expansions and contractions, relocations and disappearing acts, the league this year featured eight teams and a 42-game schedule, increasing the number of games from 36 in previous campaigns.

The club I have always followed (When I was a Fanshawe broadcast student in 1987 I interviewed then Majors owner Arden Eddie for a 30-minute program), the London Majors (www.londonmajors.com) completed its sked with a 26-16 mark – second place in the league (www.pointstreaksites/view/theibl). Impressive! Congratulations to Roop Chanderdat, Scott Dart, the cast of players, and lastly Woodstock’s Jeremy Parking who is an assistant coach.

After a busy condensed schedule of battling rain outs, player work commitments, broken wood bats, pinch runners, and bus trips to locales such as Christie Pits in Toronto, the Majors did well to earn the league’s second best record and an opportunity to play for the championship versus the likes of (always-contending) Brantford (33-9), Kitchener (25-17), Barrie (25-17), Toronto (21-21), Hamilton (16-26), Burlington (13-29) and Guelph (9-33). That’s right – Guelph, which managed to win just 21% of the time of hitting the diamond, still has a chance to win the league title. You see, all eight IBL teams make the playoffs.

Have a look at Facebook 

My suggestion, and I’ve posted on the IBL Facebook page, is that just four teams should make the playoffs. You have to understand that while many of the IBL stars have previous experience at various NCAA levels and some in semi-pro and the minors of MLB, many are under the age of 23 and still own scholarships and will soon return to school. A young rebuilding squad will certainly lose a few players when Labour Day weekend arrives or even sooner.

So the league began its playoffs this past weekend with its best-of-seven quarterfinal brackets. A team may have to play as many as 21 more games to win the Jack And Lynne Dominico Trophy, which by the way has been won by the Brantford Red Sox every year dating back to 2008.

Burlington is opening opponent

As of Sunday night, the Majors lead Burlington Bandits 3-0 with victories on three consecutive days. Game 4 is Thursday in Burlington, while Game 5 (if needed) is Friday at 7:30 at the wonderful Labatt Memorial Park at the fork of the Thames in London. The stadium is more than a diamond . . . it’s a gem.

While I don’t like the playoff structure, I do admire the IBL and its long tradition, its quality of play, and dedication of its players.

Check out the league’s website and then check out a few games.

I love selling homes, and love following baseball, hockey, golf . . . 

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Four bedrooms for your family in new listing

Reside on Rathbourne; pride of ownership

By Mark Schadenberg

Pride in ownership is sometimes an over-used term in real estate.

However, imagine when the same family has owned a house for 53 years and the owner is an electrician.

Another over-used term could be over-improved, but if a house has several updates it proves the owners have loved their home and have went above-and-beyond the call of duty in up-keep (maintenance), renovations and escalation of value.

805 Rathbourne Ave, Woodstock

MLS: 72013

The correct combination for your next home -- 4 bedrooms, spacious eat-in kitchen, main-floor family room, seperate living and dining rooms, and a fireplace in the lower recroom. Under the like-new carpet in the living and dining rooms, and the welcoming foyer, is hardwood flooring.

The kitchen includes a newer countertop and backsplash, plus 4 appliances – newer gas stove, microwave, dishwasher and fridge.  

Updates here are numerous, including high eff. furnace and central air just 3 years old, newer style windows, newer carpeting (hardwood under carpets in foyer, and living and dining rooms), and both the main-floor and lower-level 3pc bathrooms. The main bathroom has a classic clawfoot tub and is in terrific condition. Often a home from this vintage has one bathroom, or a main bathroom and a tiny tiny 2pc hidden somewhere. At Rathbourne, the other 2 (second and third) bathrooms are both less than 7 years old with a modern shower.

There are 2 staircases to the basement. The lower level is practically fully finished with 2 storage areas, laundry room and a spacious recroom. With a wet bar, electric fireplace, built-in shelving and newer carpeting, the recroom is a great family space.  

The property includes extensive landscaping, especially with the interlocking brick double driveway, gazebo and its full awning, gas barbecue hookup, and backyard tiered gardens. There is both a workshop and storage shed. The large shed has 2 swing-open doors. The yard is fully fenced for your Rover. The shop has hydro and would be ideal for a contractor or wood-working hobbyist.

This 2-storey home is in an ideal location for a family as it's near shopping, parks, the fairgrounds, and Winchester school.

Listed by:

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

Canadian ball hall plans a fall trek

October trip to baseball shrine in Cooperstown

By Mark Schadenberg

A late October bus trip into New York State would be a great way to see autumn foliage and visit Cooperstown.

I have never been to the (U.S. version of the) Baseball Hall of Fame.

Previously, when the Blue Jays Class-AAA team was in Syracuse, I would annually tell myself that a trip around Lake Ontario would be a terrific idea -- summer or fall. Toronto’s top farm club moved to Las Vegas and has now relocated to Buffalo, and I still haven’t made the trek to the American baseball shrine.

Now, the Canadian baseball shrine in nearby St Marys, is organizing a coach bus tour to Cooperstown.

Best of all, the bus tour leaves from St. Marys, but has scheduled Woodstock as a second pickup point.

Below is the link and more details.

Sounds like a great mini vacation to enjoy during baseball (MLB) playoffs.

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PRESS RELEASE

On the Road to Cooperstown

ST. MARYS -- The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is planning a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. The deluxe highway motor coach will be departing St. Marys and Woodstock on Friday, October 18 and returning on Sunday, October 20. The cost is only $289 per person based on double occupancy and includes the motor coach, two nights’ accommodation with breakfast at the Hampton Inn and taxes.
While in Cooperstown, make sure to check out the 8 Inductees in both Halls of Fame; Fergie Jenkins, Roberto Alomar, Pat Gillick, Tommy Lasorda, Sparky Anderson, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter and Jackie Robinson, plus award winners Bob Elliott, Ernie Harwell, Dave Van Horne and Tom Cheek (both an Inductee and award winner in Canada and award winner in Cooperstown).
Also, while in Cooperstown have your photo taken beside the tree that the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame planted in 1989 to honour the National Baseball Hall of Fame on its 50th Anniversary.
For those that want to visit other attractions during their Cooperstown visit try the Fenimore Art Museum and the Farmers’ Museum. http://www.thisiscooperstown.com/
For more information, please contact Darcy Wheal at Stonetown Travel 519-284-2332 or 1-877-301-2332. http://stonetowntravel.ca/groups/ or stontown@on.aibn.com.

Picture above is Tip O'Neill of Woodstock -- enshrined in Canadian baseball hall of fame in St. Marys.

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Woodstock Soccer Club seeks additional financial support

Cowan Park kicks off final stage of fundraising

By Mark Schadenberg

WOODSTOCK -- It’s not a horse race or the Olympic marathon, but they are now in the stretch drive.

‘They’ are the Woodstock Soccer Club (WSC) and its fundraising committee which has built the spectacular Cowan Park facility on the north end of Woodstock – 16 soccer pitches, including a premier lit field.

As a coach in Under4 soccer locally, I distributed to the parents on my Royal Blue squad, the latest info package on paying off the construction bill and different ways individuals, families, and companies can contribute to help retire the final outstanding bills of this outstanding complex. 

The leaflets also included background on how someone could rent part of the complex for a wedding or other function.

You could purchase a plaque inside the main hallway of the indoor soccer facility, which includes a terrific gymnasium utilized for wedding receptions and competitive volleyball, and many other functions.

Naming rights to an outdoor field, and advertising along the outside perimeter fencing, are just two more ways to sponsor minor soccer. Another? Sponsoring a team, but that is under the umbrella (pun intended) of the soccer club itself (www.eteamz.com/woodstocksoccer).

Under the ‘Cowan Park Project’ heading on the website is an impressive list of donors already recognized, and you could have your business and/or family still added as a legacy to soccer recreation in Woodstock, but keep in mind this complex also includes a (elevated) walking track above the indoor soccer pitch, adult volleyball and other users of the indoor field, most notably rugby and minor football.

The focus on the soccer club pitch is this: recognition on the donor wall for $100.

The WSC maintains a goal of $1.2 million for its final stage of fundraising. That’s a lot of $100 bricks or commemorative hallway plaques.

The WSC has a long-term commitment to the City to re-pay a loan over the next 15+ years. Reaching the club’s goal will pay for the bricks and mortar, and also maintain reasonable registration costs.

“This target will allow us to achieve our fundraising goals and maintain our vision of keeping registration and operational costs of the (WSC) and Cowan Park reasonable for users,” says WSC past president and Cowan Park fundraising chair Duane Griffith in a letter circulated to outdoor minor soccer players recently.

With receipts generated by the City of Woodstock, there is a tax receipt issued.

For details, call (519) 421-0300, or Duane Griffith at dgriffith24@hotmail.com. I think the 24 is for the number of hours in a day Duane thinks about local soccer.

Finally, as current chair of the Woodstock Recreation Advisory Committee I certainly do want to recognize all the remarkable (volunteer) efforts of soccer club executives and volunteers, especially Griffiths, Ted Beynen, Kelly Stringle and Walter Kirchner.

By the way, the earlier reference to umbrella is the fact that I coach my son’s Under4 soccer team and twice this year we played when it was raining sideways. I know soccer is an all-weather game – stopped only during lightning, but at Under4 and some children are still 3 (born in 2009), so I felt we had at least two days that a postponement would have been a good idea. If players are less than 8 years old, it’s just not fun. We had rain on our team picture day and two players left after the photographer was done and didn’t stay for the ‘toddler soccer shower’.

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

Lioness Club of Tillsonburg organizes green thumb event

Garden tour time again; 13th year

By Mark Schadenberg

TILLSONBURG – I have often mentioned here the slew of events the Lions Club of Woodstock is swamped with, but here is an Oxford County happening organized by the Tillsonburg Lioness club.

As you will read in the story linked below from the Tillsonburg News, the Lioness of Tillsonburg is set for its 13th annual garden tour on Saturday, Aug. 10, 1-5 p.m.

Sounds like a good fundraiser and a fun afternoon out at the same time.

To participate, anyone interested in taking the tour can buy a passport for $10 and it will gain you entrance to one of six gardens.

One of the gardens is featured on the front cover of the current Lee Valley catalogue.

For more info, read the story, or call (519) 842-3900.

If you would like to join the Lions Club of Woodstock – we’ve been around for more than 80 years as a terrific service club – contact myself anytime at (519) 537-1553
 
THE LINK:

http://www.tillsonburgnews.com/2013/08/01/banks-cover-garden-featured-in-lioness-tour

Once again promoting Oxford County as a great place to live !

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination

Standing up against cancer with a lemonade stand

Whitby girl raising  dollars for CCS

There are so many great stories about volunteers raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Here is one about a 10-year-old girl from the Whitby area.

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From: CTV Toronto
Published Thursday, August 1, 2013 11:30AM EDT

A 10-year-old Whitby, Ont. girl is using her summer break to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society, one odd job at a time.

Francesca LoGiacco, who recently launched the "My Summer’s Not Gonna Be A Bummer", has already raised more than $1,500 by doing a number of chores for people in her community and running a lemonade stand in her school’s parking lot.

Since last month, LoGiacco -- who has been blogging about her campaign -- has baked cookies for a senior’s home, feed cats and helped a mom walk her dog.

Some of the tasks LoGiacco suggests on her blog include: washing cars, pulling weeds, visiting seniors in long-term care homes, and flower pruning.

"I will do tasks asked by my donors … and donate all the money I have made to the foundation," LoGiacco says on her blog, which is managed by her mom.

The self-described "worker bee" has already lost five family members to cancer, including her aunt, two great-grandparents, her grandmother and her 21-year-old cousin, reports the Durham Region. (www.durhamregion.com)

"My heart was broken," LoGiacco told the newspaper, describing how she felt after the loss of her family members.

LoGiacco, who will be entering Grade 5 this fall, has been posting pictures of herself doing various odd jobs, as well as thank you notes from her "clients."

"Thank you for making me my cookies. It will help me recover faster especially since I can’t bake!" reads a note written by a donor named Jessica.

"What you are doing is amazing, raising money for cancer! You are an inspiration."

Read more: http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/need-a-hand-whitby-girl-fundraising-for-cancer-research-one-odd-job-at-a-time-1.1393546#ixzz2alsqtkb2

MLS Listings to consider from Royal LePage Triland

Elizabeth Graham, Brock Riddell or Prince Edward

By Mark Schadenberg

In the past I have used this space to promote other MLS listings in our Royal LePage Triland office.
The premise is this, our office’s listings always deserve a little extra promotion and if you're interested in viewing one of them, feel free to call the listing sales representative, or you may also call myself.

81 Brock St, Woodstock
Listed by: Lynn Routly (536-5966)
MLS: 70914
An exceptional Ontario brick cottage that dates back to 1830. It's been renovated extensively for modern mechanicals, but the charm of yesteryear still dominates. Lovely restored home with pine floors, centre-hall plan, two fireplaces and original tall ceilings. Three bedrooms, plus an expansive 22' x 13' living room.

687 Elizabeth, Woodstock
Listed by: Joe Matika (539-2070)
MLS: 71812
Move-in condition 1.5-storey home on a quiet central-city street. Large master bedroom on second floor. High efficiency furnace, central vac, plus updated bathroom and kitchen. When renovated, walls were re-insulated plus new drywall. Another top selling feature is the 2-car garage. Vacant now! You could move in before September !

346 Graham, Woodstock
Listed by: Peter Vandersar (536-1200)
MLS: 71570
Woodstock's Graham - Light - Riddell neighbourhood is always considered very desirable. This 1.5-storey home features extensive renovations on main floor especially with its open concept kitchen (5 appliances included) and 4pc bath with a jetted tub. Hardwood floors aplenty. Main-floor family room. Detached garage. Lot is 160' deep.

161 Riddell, Woodstock
Listed by: Bob Pozza (537-9270)
MLS: 71694
With the attic also finished, this is a 5-bedroom home, including a 2pc bathroom on 3rd floor. Short walk to Downtown and public library. Detached garage. Wood-burning fireplace and tall trim are among the charming highlights. High efficiency furnace. Attractive brick home with terrific covered front verandah.  

33 Prince Edward, Woodstock
Listed by: Carolyn Muzzin (539-2070)
MLS: 71480
A true 4-bedroom 2-storey with a 5th bedroom in lower level along with a large 28' x 16' recroom. Custom-built one-owner home with many upgrades including built-in oven and countertop stove (Jenn-Air with downdraft system) in kitchen. Ensuite to master bedroom Great location near community complex.

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination