Winter -- that disgrace -- has been tossed and summer takes the field.
The Intercounty Baseball League is back in a big way, with an expanded season and a full slate of eight clubs striving to seize the Dominico Cup.
The 2022 IBL season will be the start of a new era for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In January, owner Jack Dominico passed away. The Leafs' iconic figurehead operated the club for over half a century, practically its entire existence. After knowing only one boss for so long, the Leafs will take their first steps forward with a new organizational structure.
After being the club's chief counsel for many years, Ty Crawford assumes the role of chief operating officer. Crawford is a former IBL player who managed the Leafs back in 1973 and 1974.
Roger Lajoie, who was the Leafs' public address announcer from 1979 to 2013, returns as vice president of business operations.
Damon Topolie joined the Leafs in 1999 and played on three of their championship teams before transitioning to player-manager. Still active, he returns as vice president of baseball operations and GM/field manager.
Ryan Eakin, long a fixture with the Barrie Baycats, joined the Leafs last season and will take on an expanded role as director of communications and game day operations.
This core four will safeguard Dominico's legacy and guide the Leafs into the future.
"The goal right now is to make the franchise as viable as possible to a potential buyer and we are doing that through modernizing our social media platforms, YouTube broadcasts, and by [obtaining] new sponsors," Eakin said. "All this is with the hope that we will be able to continue the tradition of Maple Leafs Baseball at Christie Pits for years to come."
Christie Pits remains the Leafs' home and the park itself will look much as it always has. Fans will notice some changes on game days, including walkups for the players. The familiar club magazine is being replaced by a lineup card.
The Leafs will be bolstering merchandise sales at the park, and longtime raffle ticket seller Al Ross will play a role there. The game day raffle is no more.
Toronto's rabid fans will be able to catch 21 home games in an expanded 42-game season this summer. It is only the second time in league history that the regular season has been this long, and it's certainly welcome news after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 season, and a shortened season last year. More baseball, moar!
The Leafs' season opener is Sunday, May 15 and they will welcome the 2021 champion London Majors to Christie Pits. First pitch is at 2:00pm.
The club that takes the field on Sunday will include many familiar faces. The Leafs have announced the return of several players on social media. They include pitchers Marek Deska, Zach Sloan, Adam Marra, and fielders Greg Carrington, Jordan Castaldo, Dan Marra, Justin Marra, Ryan Santos, Jonathan Solazzo and Grant Tamane. I will add more names as the club makes announcements.
One name that will not be returning is slugging colossus Sean Reilly, who has returned to his ancestral home to play for the Guelph Royals. The Royals shut down operations for two seasons because of the pandemic, but they are back this year.
Last year, the Leafs finished second in the league and went on a postseason run that took them all the way to the deciding game of the championship series. They fell short by one game, and watched the Majors hoist the Dominico Cup at Labatt Park.
"Unfinished Business" is the club's theme for 2022. Nothing short of a ninth title will satisfy the staff and players who will launch the post-Jack era of Maple Leafs baseball this Sunday.
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