Good morning, League:

I’ve heard, through both Herm Thielen and Fred Lukich, that Ken Brillon has passed away. Ken played in our league from 1998 to 2002.

I have not been able to find any further information or an obituary online. If any member has further information about Ken, please pass it along to me and I’ll make it available to all.

Best regards,

Gary Paukert
CSMS Communications

Hello League,

The weather is beginning to show a few signs of spring and that gets us all beginning to think of the upcoming 2021 CSMS League season. You are probably wondering what that’s going to look like this year, after a ‘different’ 2020 season, and what with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Directors would like to keep you up to date with as much as we know at this time.

Your Board intends to do everything possible to provide as much quality slopitch enjoyment as possible given any provincial restrictions in 2021. At the moment, it would seem the upcoming season might look like this:

• At the very least, a full season of scrimmages/practices in small cohort groups like last year, with social distancing and reporting in place.
• At best, a full regular season.
• All teams will be stocked entirely by a draft in April, as we do in a normal year.
• There will be the normal April evaluation session for players new to the league.
• Some shifting of the number of teams in each division may take place, based on the numbers at registration.
• A new dayball opportunity will be created for players evaluated at AA and AAA divisions.

We enthusiastically encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as it is available and safe for you to do so, for the safety of everyone in the League. However we will not require proof of vaccination in order to play if AHS does not. It’s likely, though, that you will have to answer questions about your present health and possible exposure to the virus again this year before each game to satisfy AHS.

Once again, as far as evening ball is concerned, if you paid your CSMS League fees last year, we are rolling them over to apply to 2021. In that case you do NOT have to register or pay this year. You’re all set to go. All you need to do is buy your $30 Alberta 55+ 2021 membership for insurance coverage. This year everyone will have to do that themselves at www.Alberta55Plus.ca, (why not do it today?) If you wish to play AA/AAA dayball, that will cost just $75 and you will need to register and pay at www.grandslamslopitch.com, (and also of course join Alberta 55+).

Registration closes April 11th.

The Board will meet again in mid-March and we hope both the AHS regulations and season details will be clearer at that time.

Best wishes to everyone!

Ernie French
CSMS League President

As most of you are aware, CSMS League memberships for those of you who played summer ball in 2020, have been rolled over into 2021. This makes registration simple for most of you – do nothing! – except register with Alberta 55+ for 2021.

However, it does cause a problem for the registrar. Because you have been rolled over, i.e. you don’t have to register, I have no idea whether or not you actually want to play in 2021.

So if you do not plan to play in 2021, please email me at registrar@grandslamslopitch.com.

Note: If you plan to play AA/AAA Dayball, you have to register/re-register. You fall into Category 10 under “What are you registering for”.

John Schmidt
CSMS League Registrar

As most of you are aware, CSMS League memberships for those of you who played summer ball in 2020, have been rolled over into 2021. This makes registration simple for most of you – do nothing! – except register with Alberta 55+ for 2021.

However, it does cause a problem for the registrar. Because you have been rolled over, i.e. you don’t have to register, I have no idea whether or not you actually want to play in 2021.

So if you do not plan to play in 2021, please email me at registrar@grandslamslopitch.ca.

Note: If you plan to play AA/AAA Dayball, you have to register/re-register. You fall into Category 10 under “What are you registering for”.

John Schmidt
CSMS League Registrar

Only 95 Days ’til the 2021 Season!

Having lost our crystal ball, we cannot predict COVID restrictions for the coming summer. However, the league IS planning to provide at the least something similar to last year’s cohort-based, scrimmage schedule and at best a full regular season with playoffs.

Also, new for summer 2021, we are offering AA/AAA Dayball to be played between 10:00am and 2:00pm Tuesdays through Thursdays at Charleswood/Triwood. You may play regular Evening Ball, AA/AAA Dayball, or both. AA/AAA Dayball will be ability-based with a player draft, just like Evening Ball. Players who have not previously played in the league will be required to attend the evaluation session.

To register, go to our website www.GrandSlamSlopitch.com, click on the big green button near the top right-hand corner and follow the instructions. Please note that THE VAST MAJORITY of you – those who paid and played last summer – will NOT need to register. Your registration and fees have been rolled over from 2020 to 2021. However this year, EVERYONE will need to go to www.Alberta55Plus.ca and purchase their $30 membership for insurance coverage.

We look forward to hearing from you and to seeing old friends again soon on snow-free diamonds at Charleswood and Triwood, hopefully with rapidly-diminishing concerns about COVID.

Best regards,
Gary Paukert
CSMS League Communications