Edited to show Bulldogs are five-time defending champions
It felt a bit wintery the last couple of days of middle spring, but one set of the local teams of summer is set to hit the field as the Molson St. John's Senior Men's Fastpitch League gets ready for its 62nd season.
The league opens its 2018 schedule Sunday at Lions Park in St. John’s.
Once again, it’s a five-team circuit, with the defending champion Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs, 3 Cheers Pub Bud Light Dodgers, The Bigs, NTV Hitmen and Kelly’s Pub Junior Canadians all back.
There wasn’t a Junior Canadians team in the league last year, because as is the case once in every quadrennial, the youngsters played under the Canada Games banner.
It’s proven to be a stable league as far as sponsorship, too. The Hitmen, Bulldogs, The Bigs and Junior Canadians all have had the same backing for at least half a decade — most for 10 years or more — while the Dodgers resumed with 3 Cheers last year after a couple of seasons with The Dance Academy as a sponsor.
Something else that’s remained the same the last five years: the league champions. The Bulldogs have claimed every title since 2013. Last year, they downed The Bigs in the final.
The league has also slotted two in-season tournaments — the annual St. John’s Day event (June 15-17) and the senior provincial championship (Sept. 7-9).
Regular season games will be played on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
The season-opener set for 1 p.m. Sunday as the Bulldogs tangle with the Dodgers, followed by a 3 p.m. matchup between the Hitmen and The Bigs.
The Junior Canadians’ first scheduled game is Tuesday evening versus the Bulldogs.
The Molson St. John’s intermediate league is ready to start its new season on Monday at Lions Park.
Twitter: @telysports
St. John’s Senior Men’s Softball League
Final 2017 regular-season standings
Team GP W L
3 Cheers Pub Dodgers 24 16 8
Kelly's Pub Molson Bulldogs 24 16 8
NTV Hitmen 24 12 12
The Bigs 24 12 12
Canada Games 24 4 20
———
Playoffs
Semifinals
(best-of-five)
Bulldogs defeated Hitmen 3-0
The Bigs defeated Dodgers 3-0
Final
(best-of-seven)
Bulldogs defeated The Bigs 4-2
