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Improved Orillia team shuts down Huronia Grey Jays' bats

Disparity in Simcoe-Muskoka SLO-Pitch league need to be addressed as larger centres have topped standings for five straight years, writer says
2022-05-26
Huronia Grey Jays' season now underway.

The Huronia Grey Jays met the vastly improved Orillia team at home in Perkinsfield last week.

Since the last meeting at Orillia on June 14, Orillia had added new players including a fast outfield rover with amazing range.

Between him and a shortstop who could get to anything on the left side of the infield, Orillia took away many potential line-drive hits.

They were able to keep the Grey Jays in check in all, but the 3rd inning of the first game. In that inning, the Grey Jays scored the maximum five runs. But after that could only manage one more run and fell 23-6.

The Grey Jays’ offence had as much difficulty in the second game managing only eight hits in seven innings and scoring only two runs in the fifth. However, the Grey Jays defence was strong and held Orillia to 11 runs in an 11-7 loss.

The standings below show a clear disparity in the league that has slowly emerged over the last five seasons.

The two large cities that have the greatest number of potential players to choose from (ie Barrie with 4 leagues and 120 plus players) and Orillia have inadvertently created a two-tier league.

The other three teams are barely able to recruit enough players. This lack of parity will have to be addressed at a future league meeting.

Simcoe-Muskoka standings as of July 19

Barrie Green 14 wins 2 losses 28pts

Barrie Blue 11 wins 3 losses 22pts

Orillia 11 wins 5 losses 22pts

Grey Jays 3 wins 8 losses 6pts

Bracebridge 3 wins 8 losses 6pts

Wasaga 2 wins 10 losses 4 pts