JUNCTION LOOKS TO TAKE OVER THE KINGS

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The Junction Cobra Kai are entering the 2016 season with high expectations after their off-season addition of Premier Rookie of the Year Rob Skasko. The bolstered Starting Pitcher position plus the addition of a solid bat will make this one team opponents will not want to take lightly. The reigning Kings Conference HR Derby winner Darren Osborne, Utility man Mark Kennedy and captain Jason Hall will round out the lineup. Last year they were competitive, this year they look to take it a step further.

 

Rumours - There has been talk of long time Rocket Bubba Parkdale joining The Junction. Nothing has been confirmed.

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ROB SKASKO JOINS THE JUNCTION

 

Beckham to L.A. Drogba to Montreal.Thierry Henry goes from Barcelona to the New York Redbulls. Premier Star Rob Skasko goes from The Roncesvalles Rockets to the Junction Cobra Kai? Is The Kings conference shaping up as The MLS of Burby? Either way the Skasko signing and Wadden acquisition the week prior has made this conference legit.

 

The 2015 Premier Rookie of The Year has decided to take his improving talents to the mean streets of The Junction. He always knew his time in Ronci's would be short because he was filling in for super star Derek Young's injury riddled season. But he had the chance to stay in the Premier. His choices were North York, Bellwoods, BirchCliff, Agincourt and of course The Junction. He says he decided to go with the Cobra Kai for two reasons. "The big attraction would be the chance to win. I watched them at the playoffs this year and saw they had a very talented, veteran lineup. Secondly I know the Kings conference is legit because I faced alot of them in last year's World Cup and they were very tough outs."

 

Skasko bolsters an already solid pitching staff that includes Mark "King" Kennedy and Jason Hall. Last year Rob posted solid numbers in the Premier conference. In 34 innings he went 1-1 with 1 save. 23 strikeouts and a 4.76 era. Look for those stats to improve with more games being played at the pitcher friendly Oakridge Hill. Manager Jason Hall says this is a key acquisition "Very happy to add someone of his caliber and experience. He will immediately jump into our much needed sp position"

 

His bat is not too shabby either. He hit .338 with 29 walks and 23 hits and 2 HR. A good chunk of that production was seen in the second half of the season. Roncesvalles manager Greg Majster was told the news this morning. " I wanted to just say that's great.I'm happy for him and the Kai.I'm glad it worked out."

 

Another attraction to Rob was to play with his boyhood idol Darren Osborne. OZ won the 2009 Fielder of the year and Skasko was a runner up for top fielder this year. The 2 should form one of the steadiest defenses in the Kings. Things just got real in this Conference. Agincourt is now on high alert. Here comes The Kai.

 

Adrian Golombek

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Never before in the history of the TBL has a team folded only to come back bigger and better.After a brief absence the Junction Cobra Kai have been resurrected and look forward to becoming a feared opponent in the Kings Conference for the upcoming 2015 season. The Cobra Kai will be making the Dragons Den the new feared location to play at as this will be their new home base.

 

This franchise can boast a membership as a true original gangster of the TBL. Along with Leslieville and Roncesvalles these teams first stepped on the field back in 2008. The Cobra Kai were comprised of a mish mash of players with little Burby experience. The only skilled player was  a bright eyed Mark Kennedy who played his version of Burby called " Balk" in Sault Ste Marie. He tore up the league at the plate that year, hitting 11 homeruns!  But the rest of his team was overmatched and had never seen fireball pitching from the likes of Joe Callahan and Kevin Leach. They folded the next year and were never to be heard from again. Until now.

 

                              

                                       Another crack at greatness for Mark Kennedy

 

Rookie Coach Jason Hall who was recruited by his good friend and BirchCliff Bear Jason Darby will be looking to improve upon that legacy. He has tons of experience managing various sports teams and is optimistic about the upcoming year.  " I would have to say that i am most looking forward to taking to the field with my team. My expectations are for a winning season and to be a squad that others do not look forward to playing" 

                                          

                                                THE SKIP 

 

This team is comprised of once again a rag tag group but with a little more venom than before. Former Eglinton Isotopes Darren Osborne and Rob Sanderson will join the Kai along with the OG himself Mark Kennedy. "The King" is ready to roll. " I am most looking forward to returning to the game after a lengthy abscence coupled with some new teammates and hopefully having some great battles along the way"

 

Add to that mix a raw power player named Drew Skitt. He never played Burby growing up but he is one of the most athletic players in the Conferance.Jason Hall is no slouch at the plate or on the mound either. He will be the ace of the Cobra staff but he will be relying on his team of seasoned veterans to help them hoist the Kings Cup.

 

The team will be starting off-season training as soon as the weather permits.

   

 

 

 

 

 

      

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FROM THE ARCHIVES......APRIL 2012

DON'T COUNT OUT EGLINTON

 

One of the newest members on the TBL scene, The Eglinton Isotopes take their name from the Dodgers’ triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes, who in turn took their name from the Springfield Isotopes of The Simpsons fame. So, as you can see, this is an organization steeped in baseball lore.

 

The team was put together by James Andrews (whom a few of you may remember as “Scary Clown Guy” from one of last fall’s scrimmage days).

 

A burby fanatic from years past, James dearly missed the game. So when the opportunity presented itself to get involved with the TBL, he jumped at the chance.

 

Adopting the Isotopes name was the brainstorm of Jason Halpert; a natural athlete who does it all on the burby field. Also in the fold are Rob Sanderson and Ben Gelfand, the two starting pitchers for the club this summer. Both have great arms and bring some power to the plate.

 

Eglinton kicked off their inaugural campaign with a disappointing blowout loss to the Riverdale Reapers, which was largely the result of a dozen or so walks issued by Isotopes pitching. The problems continued against the league leading Leaside squad.

 

Manager Andrews led his team through a lengthy bullpen and BP this past weekend and feels the starters’ control woes may be behind them.

 

This team can hit for average and power, and the defense should be solid. So if the pitching is there this summer, the Eglinton Isotopes just might be a force to be reckoned with in Tier II.