By Frederick Halley

IT was a presentation with a difference following a condensed 2021 season. Unlike previous years, when the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) held an annual presentation, dinner and dance, this year which marked the 26th since the league was formed, the organisers were forced to stage last Saturday’s presentation outdoors.

The venue was the Ashtonbee Reservoir, Scarborough, Canada and apart from the presentation ceremony, the day’s programme included a feature encounter between the all-conquering Mercenary and an OSCL All Stars combination.

Among those in attendance for part of the presentation ceremony was Toronto’s Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson.
The COVID-19 pandemic had already taken its toll on the season with the ten teams in contention being placed in one division (20 overs) which meant that there were no 10 and 15 overs competitions as in previous years.

Mercenary, who dominated the season, winning 10 of their 11 games with the other ending in a no-result, were again dominant in Saturday’s feature, thereby taking the regular season and championship trophies while Riaz Kadir was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy.

Mercenary achieved similar feats in 2019 when they were crowned Division One playoff and regular season champions and also added the 15-over crown to their collection. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there were no tournaments in 2020.

Canadian Legends took the runners-up spot while Leguan Warriors were the Consolation winners with 3 Counties as runners-up.
Top batters awards, sponsored by Natasha Sue, went to Amit Arjun of 3 Counties who totalled 302 runs while Devon Ramnauth (Essequibo Coast CC) scored 272 and Jai Singh (Bacchus Ruff Ryders) ended the season with 258.

Jairam Ramoutar (3 Counties) led the bowling department with 17 wickets, one more than Avinash Sookdeo (Mercenary) while Shazam Baksh (Carr Tec) finished with 12,

Five players were awarded trophies, compliments of Great Canadian Valvoline Oil Changers for registering centuries – Amit Arjun (3 Counties), Richard Driffield (Canadian Legends), Avinash Sookdeo (Mercenary), Rovendra Mandolall (Carr Tec) and Ravi Bodo (Leguan Warriors).

Five-wicket hauls were registered by Anil Kumar (Canadian Legends), Nishal Dass (Canadian Legends), Reyaz Prahalad (Canadian Legends) and Shazam Baksh (Carr Tec) and they received trophies sponsored by Natasha Sue. Dass also claimed the lone hat-trick of the tournament.

Most Improved Player awards went to Salim Hassan (Leguan Warriors), Richard Dias (Mercenary), Damien Basant (Enmore), Kyle Ramsawak (Essequibo CC), Tuan Azhadeen Amidon (Bacchus Ruff Ryders), Kishan Banasar (Malvern All Stars), Adham Hussain (Ramblers), Romano Sugrim (Canadian Legends), Nazir Khan (3 Counties) and Akaash Pala (Miss Phoebe).

Plaques were also presented to female supporters Harijanthy Yogarajah, Nari Khan, Ranie Bhopaul, Mala Monelall, Elizabeth Ramsawak, Whitney Sanichara, Dina Jaipersaud and Alisha Ramadhar in recognition of their contributions to their teams and also to the OSCL.

A special presentation was made to veteran softball stalwart Mahendranauth ‘Bobby’ Parasnauth in recognition of his outstanding achievements to the sport. Parasnauth had the unique distinction of being a part of three winning teams in the 2021 season. He represented champions Mercenary in the OSCL season, was part of Canadian Legends in the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs (OMSCC) Over-40 and Toronto Blizzards in the Over-50, both emerging as champions.

A pleasantly surprised Parasnauth, who collected the award from OSCL president Ravin Babulall, was ecstatic in his praise for the OSCL executives for the gesture, while professing his love for the grassroots game over the years.