BIFL Program 2026 by Bowen Island Undercurrent

I'vebeenfortunatetocallthisislandhome-

A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN

The Bowen Island Fastpitch League was not always the humming summer machine fans know today, oiled as it is by community spirit, fierce/friendly competition, and flats of beer carted down from the General.

In the early ‘80s, Bowen had the makings of a solid fastpitch scene, but it was humbler, scrappier, with a couple dozen players practicing every Sunday morning and playing tournaments with tough squads from the mainland.

In those days, Snug Cove Field was … whimsical. There was no fence. Blackberry bushes sheathed the right-field line, and God have mercy on the forearms of any fielder scrambling to retrieve a ball smashed there. Runners skirted a six-inch rock bulging between home and first. Left field had picnic tables in play. The backstop: four standing logs, chicken wire, an invitation to player injury.

In 1986, several islanders led by Lawson Boutilier, Greg Cope, and Eddie Weismiller, whipped the field – and a brand-new Bowen Island Fastpitch League – into shape. Boutilier took charge of erecting a real backstop and fence. Cope nudged three other “team managers” to pull rosters together – in two weeks – for a four-team, nine-game loop. Eddie supplied the excavating and material for the diamond (and didn’t charge a penny). A hat tip, too, to the league’s other founding legends: Nelson Riley, Rick Burrows, Larry Oliver, Larry Waldman, Al Cox…

The first season saw triumph, with The Left Overs hoisting the first tourney trophy, and tragedy, when young islander Scott Helenius died in a house fire in August. Both the tournament and our tournament MVP trophy were named after Scott; Boutilier won the inaugural MVP award in ’86.

The BIFL was a three- or four-team league through the ‘80s, before rounding up to a half-dozen squads in the ‘90s. The Canadians and Steamers were early teams to beat, before the Twins and Firemen settled into dominance at the millenium’s turn.

Glen McGregor (standout pitcher, Canadians/ Tigers/Shakers) was named league president in 1998, after helping steer the BIFL through its first crisis. Muni leaders of the day envisioned moving the ballpark to the loggersports field at Veterans Park, while developing the Snug Cove field into condos, hotels, retail, and Whistler-type vibes.

All the league could do was invite councillors down to the ballpark for a mid-week tilt, so they could see what they’d be losing. The councillors were convinced, the scheme fizzled, and the ballpark endured in the Cove.

Left, the Snug Cove field — with blackberries in play down the right-field line — before league pioneers rebuilt the field for the BIFL. Above, Larry Oliver (holding home plate) and Greg Cope mere hours before 1986’s opening day..

AfterGlen’s19-yeartenure, SpencerGrundy(Cruisers),then currentpresidentAdamWoodward (Diggers),havepresidedoveran exceptionallysmoothlyoperating league.

Thenandnow,peopleon-andoffislandexpressamazementthatour tinyhomecansupportsix competitiveteams.Consistencyis

Weumpourownregular-season gamesandbringincardedumpsfor thetourney;it’salwaysthesecond weekendinAugust.Rosterspots aretoughtocomeby.Playersstick withtheirsquadsforliteral decades.Thentheirchildrenjoin. Lotsofkidsgrowupatourballpark, fetchingfoulballsandhomerun shotsforquarters.Wehope generationsofthemhavelearned whatittakestobeagood ballplayer,agoodsport,agood neighbour.

Yes,we’reintheleagueforlaughs, toplaysmart Dandhitourspots andworkagreatat-batagainsta toughpitcherwe’llchirplaterat thePub.Buttheleagueisn’tours; it’sBowen’s.

Thisprogramisforyou.

2006FIREMEN

tent written and edited by the Bowen Island Fastpitch League

Photo credits : Milt Michael (cover) and Valentyna Gabinyetova

A leg beer-

Alegendarybeerleagueneedsa beer-themedteam,andtheBrewers haveservedthatupcolourfullysince HoweSoundBrewingsponsored theirinauguralyearin2014witha boxofshirts,justenoughhats,anda flatofgoodlager.Teamfounder RobbieClaytonroundedupahalfdozenteammatesfromthenewly defunctCeltics(themselvesan offshootoftheoldBushwackers squad)andaddedmainstaysJames StrangandBrad“Ripper”Rypien,a buddyofHoweSound’sowner.Out wereCeltics’brightgreenunis,in weretheBrewers’now-familarroyal bluecolours,andin

2016camesponsorshipfromMike Brannon/BrannonBrothersRoofing, whohasbeenbehindthesquad since.PitchersStrang(alsotoday’s Brewers’coach)andcraftyvetMilton MichaelcontinuethestrongBrewers’ moundtraditionembodiedbyHallof FamechuckerBrianThomson,who carriedthemailthroughoutthe Bushwackers/Celtics/Brewers timeline.Afteroneofthemostactive off-seasonsintheBIFL’srecent history,BrewersaddedShakers’ veteranMikeVertliebin2026,and welcomedbackstarSSDerekSinke, whostillownstheBIFLsingle-season HRrecordwith24.

GREGCOPESPORTSMANOFTHEYEAR

KURTSTUART,FIREMEN

LEAGUEMVP

TOMWOODWARD,DIGGERS

SCOTTHELENIUSMEMORIALTOURNAMENTMVP

CORBYBERNARD,FIREMEN

COACHOFTHEYEAR

ROSSMCCORQUODALE,DIGGERS

ROOKIEOFTHEYEAR

LUCASSTRATFORD,BREWERS

BATTINGCHAMPION(HIGHAVERAGE)

JOELALONDE,CRUISERS,.643

HOMERUNKING

JOHNNYFRANKLIN,FIREMEN,WITH15

EDWEISMILLERPITCHEROFTHEYEARANDSTRIKEOUTKING ADAMWOODWARD,DIGGERS,3.91ERA;1.29KSPERINNINGPITCHED

Go nu ts bu yi ng

sust ainabl eg ifts , cl othing, jewelr ya ndar t every day fr om10 :3 0- 5!

inth eC ov eb et ween

Ti pp y ’ sa nd Do c ’ s

squirr elonbow enwww.squirrelonbow en. com 604-816-0830

RhoryBehm

Joe Lalonde

2025AWARDWINNERS

MOSTIMPROVEDPLAYER

TYKENNEY,TWINS

MOSTOUTSTANDINGINFIELDER

RHORYBEHM,TWINS

MOSTOUTSTANDINGOUTFIELDER

ROBBIEWATSON,CRUISERS

MOSTDEDICATED DOUGDURRANT,SHAKERS

MOSTIMPROVEDPITCHER

ERIKMILLER,DIGGERS

BURNSJENNINGSMOSTOUTSTANDINGUTILITYPLAYER

COLEJENNINGS,FIREMEN

ELECTRIFYINGBASERUNNER

SCOTTYCOOKE,SHAKERS

OUTSTANDINGSENIORPLAYER

SHAWNOHLER,DIGGERS

AdamWoodward

The leagu

Thehistorybooksshowthatthe league-foundingCanadiansclub predatetheCruisers,butthe definitivearchitectoftheteamis legendEddieWeismiller,whose “EddieandtheCruisers”rallyingcry stillmotivatesthesquadtoday.The team’soriginallogowasa’56fincar, inkeepingwiththeCruiserstheme; today,theteam’slogoisallbeard andallEddie,astheteamsetsoutin 2026tofittinglyhonourhisrecent passingwithafifthtourneytitle. TheWeismillers–sonJamieisan innings-eatingpowerpitcher followinginoriginalHallofFamer Eddie’sfootsteps–arethefirst familyofCruiserBall,sponsoring sincethefoundingseasonof1992. GregBosworth,JimGibson,and formerleagueprezSpencerGrundy haveplayedhugerolesguidingthe Cruisersinrecentyears,while today’ssquadisco-helmedbyGrady HuskissonandJackWelsh,whose brotherBenalsowearstheblackand-gold.FormerleagueMVPsErik Hunter-JamesandRobbieWatson patroltheoutfieldandprovide dangerouspowerattheplate,while 3BPeteBlombergsteadiesthe infieldwithall-stardefence.

Baseb f inds launch

Baseball’srags-to-richesstoryline findsitspurestformontheDiggers, launchedin1991withsponsors VersatileExcavatingandleadership fromHall-of-FamersNelsonRiley andRalphFleming.Thoughthey playedwithheartandtenacity, Diggers’firstdecade-and-a-halfsaw plentyofearlyexitsfromthe tournamentandseasonW-Lrecords ofteninthestandings’bottomhalf. 2006wasamake-or-breakyear, whencoachFlemingfoundhimselfin Aprilwithoutarosterandthe Diggersindangeroffolding.With OpeningDaylessthan24hoursaway, Ralphwentdoor-to-doorandfilled outalineupcardthatrescuedthe franchise.Oneofthosedoors

belongedtoDiggersstalwartsAdam andTomWoodward.Thetwins helpedretoolanew,youngroster, andwouldgoontocoachtheDiggers foryearswhileformingtheleague’s mostformidablebattery.Anchored alsobytwodominantDans–Guillon andCowper–andsponsorshipfrom BrianBiddlecomeandCormorant Marine,DiggershavebeentheBIFL’s mostsuccessfulteamsince2010, withnineleaguechampionshipsand seventournamentwins.2025Coach oftheYearRossMcCorquodale maintainedthewinningtradition, withaleaguewinlastyearanda tournamentfinalappearance.

BOWENISLANDFASTPITCHLEAGUE

GREGCOPESPORTSMANOFTHEYEAR

2019 DUYSON TWINS

GREG COPE S DUY SON BOW

2021 JASONJACQUET TWINS

2022 MICHAELDAWSON DIGGERS

2023 JACKWELSH CRUISERS

2024 JAMESWINCKLER BREWERS

LEAGUEMVP

2019 ADAMFRANKLIN FIREMEN

2021 ROBBIEWATSON CRUISERS

2022 DEREKSINKE BREWERS

2023 DOUGDURRANT SHAKERS

2024JOHNNYFRANKLIN FIREMEN

EDWEISMILLERPITCHEROFTHEYEAR (BESTERA)ANDSTRIKEOUTKING(KSPERIP)

2019 CORBYBERNARD -4.64 ADAMWOODWARD -1.18

2021 DANGUILLON -3.29ADAMWOODWARD -1.06

2022ADAMWOODWARD -3.26 ADAMWOODWARD -1.05

2023

2024

MOSTOUTSTANDINGINFIELDER

2019 ADAMFRANKLIN FIREMEN

2021 ADAMFRANKLIN FIREMEN

2022 DOUGDURRANT SHAKERS

2023 TOMWOODWARD DIGGERS

2024 KEELANHONDRO CRUISERS

The Dives Team is proud to support all the players, coaches, volunteers, and families who make Bowen Island FastPitch such a special part of our community.

While we cheer for every team and celebrate every young athlete’s success, we have a special soft spot for the Brewers, where our son began his FastPitch journey many years ago.

Wishing all teams a fun, safe, and memorable season. Play ball!

The Dives Team

Carmen Dives & Peter Dives

RECENTAWARDWINNERS

BATTINGCHAMPION(HIGHAVG.)

2019 AARONJOHNSTONE/DEREKSINKE DIGGERS/BREWERS

2021 ROBBIEWATSON CRUISERS

2022 JOHNNYFRANKLIN FIREMEN

2023 JOHNNYFRANKLIN FIREMEN

2024 MIKEVERTLIEB SHAKERS

HOMERUNKING

2019 AARONJOHNSTONE (DIGGERS) & ROBBIEWATSON (CRUISERS) 12

2021 JOHNNYFRANKLIN (FIREMEN) & ROBBIEWATSON (CRUISERS) 8

2022 DEREKSINKE (BREWERS) 16

2023 LIAMZAHARA&EWANMCEACHERN (FIREMEN) 9

2024 JOHNNYFRANKLIN (FIREMEN) 14

MOSTOUTSTANDINGOUTFIELDER

2019 JOHNNYFRANKLIN FIREMEN

2021 ERICHUNTER-JAMES CRUISERS

TFIELDER EMEN RUISERS

2022 JESSEDURRANT SHAKERS

2023 PAULWHITECOTTAN DIGGERS

2024 JESSEDURRANT SHAKERS

BURNSJENNINGS

MOSTOUTSTANDINGUTILITYPLAYER

2019 TYLERJACQUET TWINS

2021 PETEBLOMBERG CRUISERS

2022 GRADYHUSKISSON CRUISERS

2023 PATRICKCURRAH BREWERS

2024 RYLANDBENTALL TWINS

Family,friends,a ballgame and...

One squa

Oneoftheleague’sfourfounding squads,theFiremen’shistoryis decoratedwiththemostBIFLHall ofFamersandnowboastsa2026 lineupwitharemarkablenumber ofenduringfamilyconnections. TheFiremendon’trecruit;they multiply.HoFerandcurrentchief scorekeeperGeorgeBernardjoined theteamin1986,andbroughtson Corbyintothedugout,while daughterKatjoinedtheBIFL Executive.JasonZahara’stenure ledtosonLiam,whohasmanaged theteamforyears.Dominant brothersJohnny,Adam,andSam FranklinfolloweddadBillbetween thebaselines.BrothersBurnsand

DaronJenningscameoverfromthe Steamersinthelate‘90s;sons Cole,Dallen,andSamroundouta family-firststartingcoretoday. HoFerBurnsiesadlypassedawayin 2025andwasquicklyhonoured withtherenamingoftheBurns JenningsMostOutstandingUtility PlayerAward,wonlastyearbyson Cole.FellowHoFersRickSinke(the Firemen’sfixtureat3Bcoach today),MikeCarachelo,andPhil WoodmeantheFiremenhave alwaysbeenintheleaguemix; they’vewon10tournament titles since1997,includinglastyear’s triumphagainstperennialrival Diggers.

Two-timetourneychampions Shakersbegantheirpioneering tenureintheBIFLastheTigers, oneoffourteamsthatco-founded theleaguein1986.Tigers’first coachwasGregCope,forwhom theBIFL’scovetedSportsmanof theYeartrophywasnamed.The Tigers/Shakersfranchisehavehad themostcolorfulname-changesin leaguehistory,morphingintothe Juansin’88,TheBigIdeain1990 afterasponsorshipfromaSnug Coveclothingstore,theJuans againin’91,thenbacktotheTigers in’92.Coachesintheintervening yearsincludedAl(Rocky)Coxand

BeauChardon,beforeBIFLhall-offamerGlenMcGregorbeganhis decade-longstintatthehelmin 2000.In2002,asponsorshipfrom BowenIslandRoofingledtothe ultimatename-changetothe Shakers,withstalwartsPaul McGillivray,JonMorse,and perennialMVPcandidatesDoug andJesseDurrantallsteppingup sincetocoach.Shakershave ownedtheBIFL’sMostElectrifying Baserunnerawardinrecent memory;winnersRileyCulver(x3), ScottyCooke,andJesseDurrant are allaconstantthreattosteal.

"InworkingwithCody,wefoundhimtobealwaysprofessional anddependable.Wecametorelyonhisgoodjudgmentand excellentdesignsense...Wewouldnothesitatetorecommend CodyBentallandHighBarContractingforanyresidentialor commercialconstructionproject." ChristopherT.Hall BowenIslandClient

DINNER OUT OF THE PARK

The histor legend

Themost-decoratedteaminBIFL historyhasamarqueemixofleague legends,futurestars,andfourfathersoncombinations–Behms,Bentalls, Jacquets,andKenneys–whomake keycontributionsalloverthefield. TwinshavecapturedtheAugust league-closingtournamentarecord dozentimes,andseempoisedto makenoiseforyearstocomeafter theirsemi-finalappearancein2025. Thefranchisehadhumbler beginnings,whenleaguepioneer ShawnDavies(LeftOvers,’86)and buddiesloadeduptheYoungGunsin 1991.TheGunswonasingletiltthat year,onaforfeit.TheSteamers, namedforsponsorUnionSteamship

Marina,followedin’92,and promptlywonfourtournamentsina row.Daviescoachedtheteamfor two-decades-plus,throughanamechangetotheTwins(TwinIsland Excavating)in1996andmanymore tourneytitles,beforepassingthe reinstoHall-of-FamerJulian Stevenson.FellowHOFerScott Mackenziewasaforceonthe moundinthe‘90sand2000sandis backchuckingonBowenaftera hiatus.RhoryBehm,atjust17,won 2025InfielderoftheYear,and anchorsa2026lineupwithseveral teenandtwenty-somethingstarters.