The Quyon Combat Flyers 3^rd season in the GOFL was nothing short of a success. Even though the team was not able to win the league championship, we felt that we accomplished many goals that will help us succeed in 2010 and beyond.

At the start of the year, the team was asked what they thought a reasonable goal was for the COMBAT Flyers. The team agreed that anything short of making the league finals would be a let down. That goal was fulfilled. Losing in the finals to defending league champs, Stittsville, by 1 run in the 5^th and deciding game was a difficult feat. Stittsville lost 1 game all season, and we managed to beat them twice in the final series, and were one or two big hits away from the championship ourselves. We will build on the experience gained this season and use it to try and do one better in 2010 GOFL play.

The other goal that our team set this season, was to qualify for the ISC II Tournament of Champions and once that happened, we set another goal to make the playoff round. Well, those 2 goals were passed with flying colors. At the first ToC qualifier, The 2nd Annual Gil Read Memorial Tournament, despite losing our second game to Roebuck Jr team, the team rallied and climbed back up the losing side doing it the hard way. With wins against Stittsville, Quebec, and Roebuck again, the stage was set for the finals against rival bat company, Ottawa Team Easton Thunder. Despite jumping out to an early lead, we were unable to hold on for the victory and lost a very good game by 2 runs. Despite being told by some ISC officials that we would have a birth, we were not granted one and were forced to go to Oswego, NY for the second qualifier. The tournament only had 5 teams entered, 1 was an ISC team (NY Gremlins) and 2 others already had births to the ToC, (Easton, CPI) so all we literally had to do was show up! The tourney was held on the 4th of July weekend and as a result, the organizers wanted it over early, so each team had a very tough schedule. We were given 3 games back to back to back on Saturday and with only 10 players, did not have a good day. We did however beat hometown CPI on Friday night, in a great extra innings game.

Once we left Oswego, we knew we had our birth to the ToC, which gave us a month and a half to raise the proper funds to help ease the way there. We also added a couple of young guys to the ToC roster, Chad Hargrove and Joel Langford from Orleans. The Quad Cities are a long piece away and as a result, the majority of us decided to fly. We knew that the competition would be tough down there, but we also knew that we could compete with any team there. Many people agreed that the tournament this year was more balanced than ever, and that any team had a shot. Going into the tournament ranked # 27 did not hurt our chances as some teams may have looked past us. In our first game, we ended up coming out of the gates on fire vs the KW ON, Cubs. Our bats were very hot 1 through 9 and came away with a 10-5 victory over the 5th ranked team in the ISC2. Later that night we had a hard fought battle vs the Lloydminster AB, Dodgers, in which they came from behind in the top of the 7th to take the lead. In the bottom of the 7th, our hot sticks continued and we rallied with 1 out to earn the walk off win to go to 2-0 and virtually secure our birth in the playoff round. On day 2, we faced the Sun Valley, CA A1 Rude Pac. We ended up losing this game 7-0 in what was one of those games. Any ball we hit hard was right at one of their players and any ball that they hit found a hole or a gap. The next game we played was vs the local Dubuque, IA Sports Complex, and it was a 9-2 victory. Despite some early adversity, we pulled together as a team and rallied to score lots of runs. After that, we had to sit and wait for help in order to get 1st place in our pool and the bye to the round of 16. We got our help and had a day off.

Probably the highlight of our year came next, when we got a matchup with rivals Ottawa Team Easton Thunder. A long way to go to play a local team, but what a game it was. Both pitchers game out throwing peas and there weren’t too many base runners. After a Matt Greer solo shot in the 5th inning, we got Joran Graham the lead that he needed. It what was an eventual no hitter, a gem, highlighted by a diving over the fence catch in the top of the 7th by Steve McCord to keep the no-no in tact.

The next game was in the round of 8, and we got the highly touted team from Ashland, OH. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead early on, the wind was let out of our sails in the bottom of the 7th when they plated the 4th run to win the game and move on to the semi finals vs the KW Cubs.

All in all, a successful showing at the biggest and best tournament of the year for a group of young lads from Shawville and Quyon. Nick Armitage was also rewarded for his outstanding play that week, with a place on the All Tournament Team.

The tournament schedule ended for Quyon at the EOCC, with a win and one of the 1st births into the 2010 ToC in Midland, MI. The team went undefeated en route to the tournament title. This gives us a lot more time to plan and fundraise for next year’s ToC and we hope to better last year’s finish.

The COMBAT Flyers are already working on the tournament schedule for 2010 and plan on travelling to attend the premier ISC2 tourneys in Ontario. We will also return to Au Sable Forks, for what is one of the best tourneys to go to if you have never been there. The competition is very good and it is a great time. I would recommend that one to anybody who wants to have a good time.

The COMBAT Flyers would like to thank all of the teams who supported our beer garden at league games, and also to anybody who helped us out by submitting a playoff hockey pool or purchased tickets to our liquor basket. Both fundraisers will be returning in early 2010 and we thank you for your support in advance.