If anyone has details of the game, please e-mail ropssaa@gmail.com.
This year's final four has been moved to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Mary's, near London. It was a controversial move that came about as a result of the sport graduating from festival status to full OFSAA championship.
Below is a portion of the article in the April 27th edition of the Toronto Star.
OFSAA moves annual playoff from Rogers Centre
It had been a tradition for almost three decades.
The annual high school baseball championship, two teams vying for bragging rights at the home of the Toronto Blue Jays.
But the 28th annual final won’t be happening this year at the Rogers Centre – and that has upset many in the high school baseball community.
The problem is not with the Blue Jays, the only pro team in town to host a high school championship, but with the provincial governing body for school sports, which remains steadfast that games should not conflict with year-ending school exams.
The Blue Jays, on the road for parts of June, say they can provide the Rogers Centre on the first day of exam week in mid-June.
Not good enough for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations who have declined the offer and moved the playoff to the home of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, a 30-minute drive from London.
“I was devastated when I heard the move. Playing (in St. Marys) is not the same and it bothers me that people can make changes and take away a kid's dream,” said Tony Tedesco, a 17-year-old outfielder with Toronto’s Michael Power/St. Joseph Trojans – a team that could win the title this year.
“Many of the guys have played on the school team since Grade 9 and are graduating this year. We believe we have a fairly good team and our goal is to get to the Dome. To have a pro team offer its park to high schools is great and to me that’s what it’s all about.”
But OFSAA executive director Doug Gellatly was adamant that the change had to be made.
“Our representative council – which is the decision making body – said it was not appropriate to stage any games during exam week,” said Gellatly. “We’re an educational organization and it makes sense to me. There is lots to learn at the Baseball Hall of Fame and if all goes well, we’ll be back at the Rogers Centre next year.”
Mike Mallory, a teacher, coach and chairman of the OFSAA baseball advisory committee, said his committee of volunteers wasn’t even allowed to make a presentation to support the championship game at the Rogers Centre.
“I’m not only upset that we’re turning our back on an organization that has been so good to high school baseball but I really don’t think it’s too onerous to play a game on the first day of the week when many exams don’t even take place,” said Mallory.
“I can remember taking full sets of exams to the SkyDome and when the high school game was over, we found a room and the students wrote their exams. My players are very disappointed and I know we’re not alone.”
Mallory said playoff games were held in past at various times throughout June and with no major issues. However, when OFSAA took over last year and gave the sport a championship status, there was concern from some educators about potential conflicts with exams.
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