The Rogues
The Rogues are a fastball team that plays in the Grey Division at The RA Centre in Ottawa. They were co-founded by Ron Monette and Matt Cox in the spring of 1999. The Rogues have been in the RA Centre for two complete seasons, making the playoffs once, and combining for a two season record of 12-28-2. However, this doesn't include games that were not part of the regular season. Our record in exhibition games, tournament games and playoff games is 5-5, including an impressive 2-1 in an RA Centre tournament. Overall, that makes The Rogues' all-time record 17-33-2, which isn't bad, but could be a lot better.
During the winter of 1998, Ron Monette and Matt Cox decided that it was time to leave the OAFA (Orleans Amateur Fastball Association) behind and move to a more competitive league. The RA Centre was a perfect fit. Monette took care of all the financial and clerical duties such as registering the team and collecting fees (as well as signing Seb and Martin Soucy), while Cox took care of assembling a cast of characters to play for this team. First off, he asked Simon Calve to play. Calve was currently in negotiations with The Stingers, and wasn't willing to sign with The Rogues. So Cox started negotiations with SS Kevin O'Grady. O'Grady signed immediately, and as a result, so did his friends Ron and Rick Hrycak. So with These 3 signed players, as well as Cox, The Soucy brothers and Monette, there was a core team of 7.
Monette soon signed his brother Rick and his father Bob, and then was able to sign pitcher Jason McDonald and his friend Alex LeClerc. Cox in turn signed Ian Dunbar and Chris Amos...creating an almost complete roster. At the last moment, a couple weeks before the season started, negotiations fell through with The Stingers, and Simon Calve became a Rogue.
The Stingers in the meantime were preparing for a season in a Cumberland league, a league far more competitive than they were anticipating. The Stingers were also made up of players from the O.A.F.A. and were headed by Marc Labelle.
Nine games into the season, The Rogues, on a desperate losing streak signed Gordon "Boomer" Dillon. He consistantly hit 2 homeruns a game and brought The Rogues from the basement, into the last playoff spot.
Here is a look at the respective 1999 rosters for The Rogues and The Stingers:
| ROGUES | STINGERS |
| Players | Players |
| Matt Cox - P | Chuck Muszicka - P |
| Seb Soucy - P | Stephane Rowe - P |
| Gord Dillon - P/1B | Pascal Lalonde - IF |
| Jason MacDonald - P | Marc Labelle - C |
| Ron Monette - C | Rob McNeil - C |
| Rick Monette - 2B | Roy McNeil - CF |
| Simon Calve - 2B | Joel Lemieux - OF |
| Ron Hrycak - CF | Trevor Miller - 3B |
| Rick Hrycak - 3B | Mark Jolicoeur - 2B |
| Chris Amos - RF | Dave Shaddick - OF |
| Ian Dunbar - C | Dom Desjardins - 1B |
| Martin Soucy - C/IF | Paul ??? - 3B |
| Kevin O'Grady - SS | |
| Alex LeClerc - OF | |
| Bob Monette - OF | |
| Alain Lapointe - SS* | |
* - Alain Lapointe played in The RA Centre tournament, and in two exhibition games. He also played in one regular season game as a sub.
The Following year, in 2000, a few changes were made to both lineups. As well, The Stingers decided to join The Rogues in The RA Centre.
The biggest change was the loss of Jason McDonald, Alex LeClerc and Gord Dillon. (Jason and Alex were only at a few games, and Gordon moved down East.) Dan Robert was brought aboard as a third pitcher and a heavy bat. He was one of The Rogues' best hitters consistantly all year. Here's the 2000 roster for both teams:
| ROGUES | STINGERS |
| Players | Players |
| Matt Cox - P | Chuck Muszicka - P |
| Seb Soucy - P | Stephane Rowe - P |
| Dan Robert - P | Gerry Nolis - P |
| Ian Dunbar - C | Pascal Lalonde - C |
| Ron Monette - 1B | Rob McNeil - C |
| Rick Monette - 2B | Roy McNeil - CF |
| Simon Calve - 2B | Joel Lemieux - OF |
| Ron Hrycak - CF | Trevor Miller - 3B |
| Rick Hrycak - 3B | Mark Jolicoeur - 2B |
| Chris Amos - RF | Dave Shaddick - OF |
| Kevin O'Grady - SS | Dom Desjardins - 1B |
| Martin Soucy - C/IF | Alain Lapointe - SS |
| Martin Laporte - OF | |
Both teams support pretty lousy records after the two years of Post - OAFA fastball. The Stingers barely won two games in their inaugural season, playing in a league which was far too competitive. The Rogues had a pretty good year in 1999, making the playoffs and making a pretty good run. However, in 2000, The Stingers had a 10-11 record while The Rogues went 6-15 in the regular season, giving The Stingers a playoff spot, and The Rogues - a little more time to think about next year.
Well, the year 2001 has rolled around and The Rogues are getting ready for their third season, with some MAJOR changes in the lineup. Co-Founder Ron Monette left The Rogues organization immediately following the end of the regular season. Sighting personal differences, Ron left the team and along with his brother Rick, created The Cougars, a new team with Gerry Nolis from The Stingers.
Matt Cox took sole responsibility of The Rogues, and delegated the role of player personnel to Simon Calve. Calve in turn signed Pitcher Martin Glazer, and former Stinger, infielder Rob McNeil. Then, in a shocking twist, Rick Hrycak left the team for personal reasons, leaving a hole at third base. Rick's brother Ron however managed to sign Darren Gallant...a welcome addition to the lineup.
So to see the current 2001 Rogues' lineup, click on the Roster link at the top of this page, and as far as I know, that's the history of The Rogues.