Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League: Welcome

The Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League is the premier baseball league in Nova Scotia, and has been since its inception in 1977. The league is comprised of 5 teams - the Sydney Sooners, the Truro Bearcats, the Kentville Wildcats, the Halifax Pelham Molson Canadians, and the Dartmouth Moosehead Dry.

The league is home to four Canadian senior champions (1985 Kentville Wildcats, 1998 & 2004 Dartmouth Moosehead Dry, and the 2005 Nova Scotia senior all-stars).

As the 2011 league champion, the Halifax Pelham Molson Canadians will represent the league at the 2012 Canadian Senior Baseball Championship in Prince George, B.C. The tournament will be played Aug. 23-26, 2012, at Prince George Citizen Field and Rotary Field.

The Halifax Pelham Canadians got the bats going early and cruised to a victory in Truro. They will face Dartmouth on Thursday night in at Beazley Field. Truro will look to break into the win column this weekend as the host the Sydney Sooners, the three game series begins Friday night at 8pm.

Anthony Ianetti was brilliant throwing one-hit ball over 6.1 innings, and rookie Nate Brewer impressed with 2.3 innings of relief allowing just 3 hits in providing the Sooners with a win in the rubber match in Game of the opening weekend series.

Sydney: Anthony Ianetti (WP), Nate Brewer (7, S), and Greg MacKinnon, Matt Oliver (7)

Justin Brewer, single, SF, RBI; Josh Forrest, single, 2 RBIs; Matt Oliver, single, RBI; Rob Biron, single, RBI

Dartmouth: Jeff Reeves, Jason Smith (6, LP), and Justin Stephens

Chris Head, double; Justin Stephens, Matt Thomas, Chris Gallivan, singles

The Sydney Sooners broke a 15 game losing streak versus the Dartmouth Moosehead Dry. Justin Brewer scattered 7 hits and struck out 8 over 7 innings to pace the Sydney Sooners to victory over the Dartmouth Moosehead Dry in the opening game for both teams on Fri. at Beazley Field. Veteran Jeff Maxner had a 2-run double and drove in a 3rd run with a groundout to lead the Sooners offensively. The game was completed on Sat. as the lights went out in the 9th inning with Dartmouth at bat and needing a rally to overtake the Sooners, but Kenny Long shut the door on the Dry to save the victory for Brewer.

Sydney: Justin Brewer (WP), Nick Shaw (8), Kenny Long (9, S) and Jeff MacKinnon, Matt Oliver (7)

Jeff Maxner, double, 3 RBIs; Jeff MacKinnon, double, 2 singles. RBI; Rob Biron, double, single, R

Dartmouth: Justin Davies, Craig Sinyerd (6, LP), and Justin Stephens

Greg West, 2 singles, RBI; Mike Loizides, 2singles, RBI; Justin Stephens, Darren Doucette, Chris Gallivan, singles

Game 2

Jeff Reeves picked up the win coming on the 9th and shutting down the Sooners as Colin Johnson played a huge role in providing the margin of victory in the 10th, gaining 1st on a HP, advancing to 3rd on newcomer Mike Loizides' single and scoring on a wild pitch by Nick Shaw.

Sydney: Kenny Long, Nick Shaw (6, LP), and Matt Denney

Justin Brewer, HR, single, 3 RBis; Jeff Maxner, 4 singles, 2 RBIs; Rob Biron, 2 singles

Dartmouth: Shain Beaudreau, Cameron Marlin (6), Jeff Reeves (9, WP), and Justin Stephens

Chris Head, HR, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; Mike Loizides, 3 singles, double; Colin Johnson, 2 singles; Chris Gallivan, single, RBI; Matt Thomas, single, RBI

Mark Haverstock, making a return to the mound after his accident last season, showed little rust as he and Trevor Wamback locked up in an old-fashioned pitchers' duel. Wamback and the Kentville Wildcats earned a 2-1 decision over the Halifax Pelham Molson Canadians but all eyes were on Haverstock for obvious reasons. Wamback earned the win by scattering nine hits over eight innings while Haverstock allowed six hits in seven innings. The Wildcats scratched out a run in the top of the ninth to break the tie and Codey Schrider earned the save with a flawless ninth inning.

Kentville: Trevor Wamback (W, 1-0), Codey Schrider 9, SV and Ian Mosher

Halifax: Mark Haverstock, Reggie Snow 8 (L 0-1) and Shawn Walsh

Friday's game between the Dartmouth Moosehead Dry and Sydney Sooners was suspended with one out in the bottom of the 9th inning due to the fact that the lights went out at 11:15. Sydney was leading 5-2, the Dry had runners on 1st and 2nd , one out, and Greg West at the plate with an 0-2 count. Kenny Long had come in to pitch to him in relief of Nick Shaw. The game will be completed with a 12:00 start, the doubleheader to follow immediately after.

In other action scheduled for Saturday, the Halifax Pelham Canadians will open their season versus the Kentville Wildcats (1-0), first pitch is scheduled for 2pm at Mainland Common.

The Kentville Wildcats hung on to nip the Truro Bearcats in the season opener. Shayne Conrad threw 6 innings and strike out 8 without giving up a hit.  Truro scored 5 times but Kevin Daurie was able to close it out.

Truro- Brandon Mallolly (L, 0-1), George Chapman (6), Josh Fustey (7) and John Chapman.

Adam Lombard - single, RBI Brandon MacKay - single, RBI

Kentville - Shayne Conrad (W,1-0), David MacIntyre (7), Christian Vogler (9), Kevin Daurie (9, S) and Josh Parker.

Billy MacKenzie - 2 singles, triple, 5 RBI

The NSSBL season will kick off tonight at Memorial Park in Kentville as the Kentville Wildcats will take on the Truro Bearcats. Game time is 7:30pm.  

Tuesday's NSSBL season opener between the Halifax Pelham Canadians and the Kentville Wildcats has been postponed due to inclement weather. The make up date is scheduled for Saturday May 26th at 2pm at Mainland Common.

The 2012 Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League is set to begin its 35^th season of play, with the 2011 league champion Halifax Pelham Canadians hosting the Kentville Wildcats Tuesday night. The Wildcats return home to play the Truro Bearcats on Wednesday at Memorial Park. The 16 time provincial champions Dartmouth Moosehead Dry will welcome Sydney to Beazley Field on Friday night for a three game series.

Head Coach, Darren Doucette, Asst. Bobby Gillis 

The youth movement has begun in Dartmouth with the retirements of Jason Bailey (who returned briefly last season) and 21 year veteran Joel Irvine - most likely the best all-round player in league history. RHP Craig Langille has decided to take the 2012 season off and the return of Steve Nelson to the mound is also questionable after suffering an arm injury during last years' playoffs.  This year’s staff will again be anchored by closer Jeff Reeves (4-1, 1.62 ERA), however the rest of the staff - Cam Marling, Shain Beaudreau, Craig Sinyard and Justin Davies are young, talented and looking to prove themselves in the top league in the province. The Dry have also added Jason Smith who played a partial season with the Truro Bearcats in 2011.   Offensively, the Dry will again look to Chris Head (.385 AVG, 43 SB) and Matt Thomas (.319, 16 SB) to set the table for the big bats of perennial MVP candidate Greg West (.421 AVG, 20 RBI) and the league's All-Time Home Run Leader Darren Doucette (.336, 13 HR, 35 RBI). The Dry have added former UBC player OF Mike Loizides, who will be expected to pick up some of the offensive void with the retirement of Irvine. Dan Comeau will take over the 3rd base duties for the Dry and Colin Johnson will get a full season at 2B this year after a stellar 2011 season with the bat. Justin stephens will once again handle the catching duties with Chris Gallivan returning at shortstop. Rookie Matt Harding will see time in the OF and DH in 2012.

Halifax (2^nd place, 21-11, stopped Kentville 3-1 in semi-finals, beat the Dry in finals 4-3)

Coaches: Mark Pelham, Mark Haverstock, Ryan Veinot

With a full year of experience now under their belts, expectations are high among the Canadians’ coaching staff.  Considering the fact they were able to keep things together amid the unfortunate loss of the circuit’s top right hander and playoff MVP, Mark Haverstock, during the finals, combined with the ill health of lefthander Barrett Bellefontaine, the pressure fell squarely on the shoulders of the remaining members of their pitching staff.  They rose to the occasion and rode an impressive game seven performance from big right hander Steve Ivey, who blanked the potent Dry bats for eight innings, en route to a 5-2 clinching win in Dartmouth.  Remarkably, Haverstock (9-4) has made an amazing recovery and will team with Ivey (3-3) and newcomer Craig Field who comes aboard from the Truro Bearcats.  The Halifax offense will once again be ignited by the veteran trio of shortstop, Ryan Veinot (.368), all-star outfielder, Mark Pelham (.391) and all-star infielder, Adam Lucas (.398), with Shawn Peverill (30 RBI), Josh Pelham (21 RBI) and Scott Willgress (19 RBI) looking to drive them home.  Outfielders Paul Davie (.277) and Brandon Devlin (.310) round out the regular position players, with veterans Shawn Walsh (.300) and Randy Stewart (.286) handling the staff.  As defending NSSBL champions, the Canadians will represent Nova Scotia at the 2012 Canadian Senior Baseball Championships in Prince George, BC beginning August 23.

Kentville Wildcats (3^rd place, 16-16, lost to Halifax 3-1 in semi-finals)

Head Coach: Ian Mosher, Asst Chris Salsman, Chris Randall

Kentville will run out a deep veteran lineup and veteran pitching staff; some additions will create depth and give the team confidence needed to make it past the first round of the playoffs in several years. Former Truro Bearcat, Billy MacKenzie (.404 avg) will bolster an already deep lineup that includes 2011 all-stars Ian and Mike Lockhart. Kevin Matheson (.381) is expected to have another great year at the plate. Young pitchers Alex Tufts, Curtis Sampson, Christian Vogler and Shaun Marshall hope to get Kentville over the hump.   New comer catcher Trevor Zoney(B.C.) will provide depth at the catching position after a strong rookie season from Josh Parker. The rest of the pitching staff is solid and is led by Kevin Nichols. Curtis Falls, Shayne Conrad, Trevor Wamback, Cory Kent, Kevin Daurie and Clyde Landry.  Nick Hill and Les Berry will share the duties at 3^rd base and Jason Pleasant Sampson and Rob Shepherd will provide solid defence in center field.

Sydney Sooners (4^th place, 10-22, lost to Dartmouth 3-0 in the semi-finals

Head Coach: Jim “Rico MacEachern

Constant roster turnovers are a necessity for Sydney, which plays the league’s toughest schedule with games every weekend. This season will be the first full season without Beau Chaisson and Jason Snow, both have been key members of the Sooners and representing Dartmouth or Halifax in recent National tournaments.  This season expect a young defensive team with Jeff Maxner and 2011 NSSBL MVP, Cory Christie (.378, 31 RBI’s) expected to carry the load offensively in the 2012 season. One of the best defensive the league has seen Matt Denney will be handling the catching duties. Justin Brewer had another strong season finishing 3^rd in innings pitched and 2^nd in strikeouts. Paul Doucette continues to be an inning eater and a good bat in the middle of the lineup. Nick Shaw and Kenny Long hope to have solid seasons on the mound and contribute offensively.

Truro Bearcats (5^th place, 8-24, missed playoffs)

Head Coach: Scott MacGillivray, Asst James MacPherson

There is plenty of optimism this year as many new and young players have joined the Bearcats for the 2012 NSSBL Season. The Bearcats return long time veterans Guy Pellerine SS/3B (.357), J.P. Wood 1B/2B (.345), Darson Murphy LF (.344), John Chapman C/RHP (.333), and Joe MacPherson RF (.302) will add some clout. Also returning are big LHP Brandon Malally, Adam Lombard CF, Scott Baillie C/3B and Dan Bates OF/RHP. Also making a return to NSSBL action after a couple of years absence are RHP/3B George Chapman, Jason Blois RHP/OF, and Trevor Cloney OF. Excitement surrounding the Bearcats in 2012 is the number of young players out with the team, Sean Harvie RHP, Mike Tobin 2B/SS BNS Major Player of the Year 2011, Troy Fisher OF/C, Josh Fustey RHP/3B and Brandon MacKay OF, all bring a young desire to play and contribute to the Bearcats for 2012. Returning pitchers are Brandon Malally, John Chapman, and  Dan Bates. New hurlers joining the team are Tony Stewart RHP/3B from the Windsor Knights of the Intermediate League,  Sean Harvie RHP, Josh Fustey RHP,  George Chapman RHP,  and Jason Blois RHP.