2012 Winner of the Dr. Anson Buck Award
2019 Brampton Tournament Finalist
2019 COBA MVP - Joe Ferreira
2019 COBA Playoff Finalist
2022 Lakeside Tournament Finalist
2022 COBA ROY - Aidan Murphy
2023 Lakeside Tournament Finalist
2023 COBA Playoff Finalist
2023 COBA ROY - Alex Fascia
A Proud member of the COBA "AAA" Major League since 2004
Wall of Fame
Class of 2019
Blake Frost
Team Founder
Ron Lutz
Team Co-Founder
It was Blake and Ron who brought Brampton back into the Senior circuit after a hiatus of a couple of years, but it wasn't without its pitfalls. Anything less than a 110% effort by Blake and Ron, the team would have folded. Under their leadership the team had to first, learn to play together, then compete together, and later, win together. Blake and Ron had to recall all they learned about baseball administration to get the team off the ground. Not having much time, they reached out to Milton Red Sox longtime coach George Moore to help out. After George provided them with their template for success they were on their way.
It was in 2012 when all the blood, sweat and tears paid off in the form of winning the Dr. Anson Buck Trophy. Their extraordinary efforts were recognized by the COBA executive by being inducted into the COBA Hall of Fame in 2013 as well as being the co-coaches of the year for 2012.
Scotty Stephenson
11 Year Field Manager
Who knew a chance encounter at a Tim Horton's would lead to a very long career with the Braves/Battlecats. That's where Scotty bumped into Ron Lutz, who at the time was looking to add to his coaching staff and thought Scotty would be a great addition to the team. For the next 11 seasons Scotty would become an integral part of the team. He had previously worked with coach Ian Held with the Junior AAA team, and many of the players as well, so he would be a perfect fit.
Scotty wholeheartedly dedicated himself to the Battlecats and helped out in any way he could, especially during the winter workouts and tryouts. He took his role of field manager very seriously and coached 3rd base for many years. Along with his reliability and diligence, his experience made the Battlecats a better team. Scotty would do anything for the team, even grab a bat when his last player on the bench gets ejected, then hits a solid double.
Ken Appleby
For 11 years provided leadership and great defense up the middle
For a team just starting out we were very fortunate to have a player of Ken's ability. The experience gained from playing U.S. College ball brought the team credibility. He was equally good playing the field as he was at the plate. While having fun playing the game, Ken being very team oriented took the game seriously and expected his teammates to play with the same intensity, and wouldn't think twice about letting them know if they weren't carrying their weight.
Ken was a pleasure to have on the team and was always respectful to his teammates and coaches. It was very important to have someone like him on the team during its infancy because of his steadying influence. He was also an asset off the field in helping out when it came to fund raising which was so important for a new team.
Aside from batting .307 lifetime, he led the team in 1B, 2B, RBI and BB in 2007
Mike Benyo
10 Year Veteran was the Ultimate Team Leader
Early in the summer of 2005, upon returning home from college in the States, Mike Benyo showed up at Dash midway through a Battlecat double header asking if he could join the team. The rest was history. It didn't take long for the team to realize they had someone special who would later become the unofficial team captain. This very intelligent player was versatile as well, playing 1st or 3rd base at a very high level. He had the knack of getting key hits when the team needed it most.
If you listen carefully the next time you take in a game at Dash you may hear the echoes of Mike Benyo. You would hear that booming voice yell "SO WHAT!!", which was his way of saying "don't worry about it, let's move on". He never got flustered, always stayed in the moment.
Mike is still on 8 of the Top Ten Team Batting Lists
Joey Nonis
Ultra Versatile 12 Year Veteran
Being one of the originals, Joey was an great asset because of his ability to pitch and bat whenever called upon. His rubber arm enabled him to go deep in games when he pitched. Since ole "NoNo" didn't have that explosive fastball he depended on throwing the many variations of his junk ball with much success. He was truly dedicated to the team. Joey was the teams Swiss Army knife, he could play anywhere they needed him.
To open the Elims vs. powerhouse Erindale Joey was asked to start and he didn't disappoint giving the team a much needed win and momentum going into the weekend. Regardless of who the opponent was, the team could always depend on a 100% effort from "Old Rubber Arm".
Joey took the fundraising to heart and one time almost filled the bus to Casino Rama with family and friends, as was the case with Poker Nights.
Threw at least 40 innings in 9 different seasons, over 530 lifetime which are signs of a quality pitcher.
Mike Burke
12 Year Veteran is Teams Winningest Pitcher
Mike's timing could not have been better in 2007. Being a lefty, and a pitcher was exactly what the Battlecats were looking for, but it took some time to iron out a few things on the mound, before becoming a solid southpaw. He's been smiling ever since, always cheering on the team whether he's pitching or not.
Only Royals player ever to be traded. In a sign of good sportsmanship to prevent Mississauga from forfeiting the game the Royals sent them a player, Mike (some say for a bag of balls). He played 1st base going 1-3.
The 4 time All Star has always prided himself as being the go-to pitcher when facing tough opposition like in 2015, when he made 7 starts against Niagara, Etobicoke and Mississauga (all 3 teams at the time were rated in the top 5 in the province) – 43 INN, 6 ER, 1.26 ERA, .107 WHIP.
In the span of just over a month in 2018, Burke faced the Rangers of Etobicoke 4 times, winning 3 of them, tossing 24 innings, allowing only 6 ER with a 2.25 ERA.
When challenged at the 2018 Elims, Mike welcomed the red-hot Royals bats smoothing the way to a couple of victories over the Rangers. He beat them 18-4 then 2 days later beat them again on a 3 hit shutout. He would later say "I've never had that much fun playing baseball".
Steve Hough
12 Year Veteran is Teams Longest Serving Player
Steve joined the Battlecats after graduating from the successful Junior program with the reputation of being a power right handed pitcher. He came as advertised, and soon became a starter. A steadying influence on and off the field, offered to play the outfield when the coaches were in a jam for bodies.
He was a fierce competitor, never giving in, wanting to finish every game he started. Not sure how he did it but he decided to shave his "Duck Dynasty" beard after winning the first game of a Niagara doubleheader.
Even while wearing a cast on his foot he still came out to support his teammates. His name is on 8 Top Ten Team Career Pitching lists, which makes him a most valuable asset to the Royals.
Hough's career stats speak volumes of his consistency, his pitching is in the Top Ten 7 times of the 12 pitching categories.
Ryan Knight
9 year veteran was COBA's best base stealer
The Road Runner! Ryan had speed to burn. The teams leadoff batter turned more singles into doubles than anyone, and when held to a single took all the attention from the batter as he forced so many pickoff attempts. An opposing manager once confided, "he feared we were going to run them right out of the game". Ryan's 106 SB is still highest on the team. Finished his career with a .307 BA so it wasn't all about the speed, he was an all-round great ball player.
His speed allowed him to track down deep fly balls that had no business being caught.
Ryan was integral part of the team's off field activities helping to organize team events.
His smiling face and good nature was always present. In the stands you would often hear his father cheering the team on and occasionally making some hilarious wisecracks.
Brad McLaughlin
10 Year Veteran gets better with Age
The Battlecats actively recruited Brad as he was highly regarded as a top RHP. He worked out with the team in his first year but was asked to attend a semi pro team in Quebec so we weren't sure he would be back. Fortunately for the Battlecats he decided to return to Brampton and was able to join the rotation.
Brad has a great fastball and pitching was his prime function with the team. Being a solid athlete he also played shortstop and filled in wherever we needed him to play.
Brad had two very big games in 2018 throwing a CG 2 ER gem beating Pickering in Ottawa under extreme hot conditions. Brad earned the win vs a strong Niagara team in the playoffs holding them at bay until getting relief help. If we lose either of those games, we would look back at 2018 quite differently.
Victor Speciale
10 year veteran with a lifetime .372 BA
In the winter of 2009 Vic showed up at one of the Battlecat workouts and asked for a tryout. The team was very surprised and very pleased by what they saw. His extraordinary talent both offensively and defensively became evident immediately and stayed consistent for the next 10 years. It didn't take long for word of his baseball prowess to spread through COBA. Vic became one of the most highly respected players not only in the league but throughout the province.
Vic's proudly wears the badge of honour of being the team's leader on and off the field. There were many times when he'd carry the team on his shoulders giving them a chance to win whenever he played. His play has earned him a number of awards including being a 6 time All Star and was the 2010 recipient of the Bill Graham Ironman award for his exceptional play without missing a game and more importantly the prestigious league recognition as "Sportsman of the Year" in 2014.
In his 10 years of senior ball his career BA never dipped below .306. Amazing!!
Class of 2021
Jesse Edmunds
Hated losing more than he loved winning
Jesse came to the team after being coached by Steve Kretz. Almost immediately the coaches recognized Jesse's talent and personality. He fit in with the players right from the start. He took direction from the manager and coaches and showed leadership in organizing team fund raising and events.
Jesse was/is one of the most passionate baseball fans there is. He would show up to the yard every day with a positive attitude whether he was playing or not. He was the teams best closer and also willing to play any position he was needed.
One of his coaches recalls a playoff night in which they had to win to continue. We asked Jesse to start, which was not his normal role which was closing. The team was facing Milton Red Sox's great pitcher Ian Zettle. Jesse pitched the game of his career and Brampton won. He went on to be one of the team's most reliable pitchers.
In 2009 Jesse got into 8 games and saved 5 of them. It was lights out when he entered the game.
Matt Held
A leader by example
When Matt's older brother Steve joined Brampton we were able to call up Matt to help us with our catching needs. Although Matt was being scouted by some elite clubs he chose to join us after he finished with our Junior rep team coached by Ian Held.
Matt became our starting catcher immediately. He was a solid and reliable player coming through with many key hits as well as defending the plate.
Held was one of those guys that made you happy he was on your team. One of his pitchers recalled "I remember early in my career, my first or second time pitching to him, I got the signs crossed up. He immediately called "time" and came out to the mound. He said, and I quote, "you do that again I'll beat the shit outta you!" I made sure I never did it again. As players, we all had responsibilities, and he would hold everyone accountable."
Having a strong, accurate arm made Matt a very good 3rd baseman. He led the team in 2005 in R, H, RBI, OPS and AVG. while striking out only once for the season.
Matt had his own cheering entourage in Bougie and Cubby who would cheer the team on while jeering the opponents.
Jaineel Purohit
Helped the team win anyway he could
Jaineel was another graduate from Steve Kretz's coaching. When the team needed extra pitching help they were able to call up Jaineel and he performed very well. The team needed help in a 2008 playoff game against Glanbrook and called on Jaineel to see if he could help them out. Although he had some family commitments he was able to come to Burlington and pitch. He threw a great game earning the win. His effort infuriated the opposing manager who was just beaten by a junior pitcher. The Battlecat coaches loved it.
Jaineel did nothing great, but everything very good. Over his six seasons Jaineel had a .304 BA
Matt Piccioni
His dedication and loyalty to the team was beyond reproach
We were able to recruit Matt from the Junior ranks. He immediately went on to anchor our outfield for many years. He often led the fundraising efforts and was the team's cheer leader. Although Matt was thinly built he was a tough player.
There was a game in Milton when he belted a liner that went over the right fielders head and as he rounded second and came towards third, the 3rd base coach made the quick decision to send him home for a rare an inside the park homerun. Milton however fired the ball home and as Matt was beginning to slide his cleats kicked up accidently and caught the catcher. Both benches emptied and as things cooled down there was "Peaches" standing with the catcher discussing the situation.
He was a player any coach would love to have. One Battlecat pitcher remembers "I absolutely loved having Peach in the outfield. He was so dependable that when a flyball was hit his way with 2 out, I wouldn't even look. I would just walk towards our dugout and to get some water."
In 2007 Matt led the team in OBP (.577), SLG (.576), OPS (1.153) and AVG (.439)
Allan Hughes
His baseball IQ was 2nd to none
We were fortunate to get "Hughsie" to become the teams catcher when we decided to give Matt Held's knees a break and have him play 3rd for us. Allan took on the role with enthusiasm and proved to be a solid backstop.
The success of any team often depends on the catchers. They need to be in sync with the pitchers and the Battlecats were fortunate to have Hughes guarding the dish.
Allan was an absolute gem of a teammate stated veteran Battlecat pitcher Mike Burke. "In the 4 or 5 years that I pitched to him, I don't think I ever shook him off. We were always on the same page, we actually came up with a sign to make the other team think that I was shaking him off. "
Allan had a great eye at the plate only striking out once every 11 AB (36 times over his 400 AB)
R. J. Page
Demanded respect while on the mound
Came to the team after attending Mayville College in the States in 2011. We missed him when he left us for couple years to play semi pro ball in western Canada.
His fiery disposition was often on display while on the mound. There was one incident in game one of a Sunday afternoon doubleheader with Oakville where he and their hot headed player got into a scuffle. Apparently the huge Oakville batter didn't appreciate his inside pitching. Although suspended for the second game the coaches pleaded his case to the league to avert further action. RJ was too valuable a pitcher to have sitting for any amount of time.
RJ might be the most competitive player to ever wear the Brampton uniform. He was reliable and respectful to the coaches and well liked by his teammates. The team liked him so much they bought him a boxing glove to prevent him from breaking his hand punching things after giving up a run. He was one of those players that you were glad he was on your side.
Page was often called upon to eat up a lot of innings, a challenge he enjoyed. In 2012 when the team won the Anson Buck award RJ was a huge asset leading the team with an outstanding 2.88 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in his 50 innings pitched.
Class of 2023
Joe Ferreira
There are no weak spots in his swing. If you pitch it, he'll hit it.
Joe came to the team in 2012 after a successful 3 years of baseball and schooling at Mayville State College in North Dakota. At first Joe played a limited schedule because of injuries but when he was healthy in 2015 he lit up the league for 9 HR and batted .398 earning instant respect, not only with his teammates but all of COBA took notice.
It was Joe that led a group of new players that would literally transform the team into a COBA contender. With Joe in the lineup, the Royals can and have beaten the best in the province. Joe is a quiet leader letting his bat do the talking.
The 4 time Provincial and 2 time COBA all star set team marks in his monster 2019 MVP season for HR(10), RBI (53), SLG (.723), and OPS (1.285). Joe was equally dominant with his pitching. In his 72 1/3 innings pitched he finished with an outstanding 2.49 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, with 72 K.
Joe is in the top 5:
6 of 16 season batting categories and
13 of 16 career categories.
8 of 13 season pitching categories and
8 of 13 career categories.
Marco DiRoma
The team's quarterback takes his craft very seriously.
Marco DiRoma came to the Royals by way of John Logan College then St. Louis University perfecting his catching skills. Marco's timing couldn't have been better when he joined the club. He'd be a #1 catcher for any team in the province.
The 3 time Provincial and COBA All Star batted .350 or higher in 3 of his 6 seasons as a Royal and 3 times he led the team in SB. Not many catchers can say that.
His play behind the dish provides his pitchers a huge amount of confidence to throw any pitch at any time, knowing Marco will smother it somehow, while holding the runners.
When hitting, he'll never step into the box until he's 100% mentally prepared with his plan. He takes everything into account, such as the fielders positioning, what did this pitcher throw me last time, what was his out pitch? All of this is calculated in his head before stepping into the box. It's always right foot forward, pause, think, then step into the box. The pitcher may have the ball but Marco is in control.
Mediocrity is not in his vocabulary. He demands excellence out of himself and of his teammates.
Marco's play put him in the top 5 in 9 of 16 season batting categories, and 15 of 16 career categories.
Brian Stormer
All Heart and Soul
Brian came to the team in 2012 and earned the respect of the team right away with his never die attitude and his high baseball I.Q. He had a valuable knack of moving the runners over when called upon.
It's difficult to measure a players worth without using strictly numbers. He never had the opportunity to put together a run of games to gather momentum because he was always the number 2 catcher, but that never stopped him from giving the team 100% effort every time he took the field. His attitude and play forced his managers to rearrange the lineups so they could get him into the game.
Stormer's best season was in 2019 when he batted .341 and a .882 OPS. His best game was in the June 15, 2019, Vaughan Tournament versus the East York Bulldogs. He went 4 for 4 (1 single, 1 double and 2 triples), scoring 3 times and adding 3 RBI.
For a catcher of his stature, it never stopped him from holding his ground from a player trying to score as evidence of the above photos. He played much bigger than he was, and has been a huge asset to the team.
Andrew Thomson
Oh, that 2015 season was so special
Andrew was an OUA all star in 2009, leading his champion Western Mustangs to an overall season record of 17-5. Thomson also had a successful Humber College career setting new team standards in almost every offensive category, including a .375 BA. There was no growing in period for Thomson when he joined the Battlecats in 2012. He led the team in four batting categories.
The 2 time COBA all star is always so unassuming while standing in the batters box until the ball is on the way, then the mechanics kick in. His great hitting success comes from his lightening quick bat, allowing the ball to travel further before having to react giving him a huge advantage at the plate.
His footspeed has always been an asset. A large portion of his hits are from beating out those all-important infield singles, and not many in the league can match his 1st to 3rd speed.
In Thomson's 2nd season in 2015 he rewrote the Battelcats record book that earned him a spot on the provincial all star team.. He set new team season marks in hits (63), singles (43), triples (8) and runs (46). His 26 lifetime triples are still a team record. His career games played, at bats, hits, singles and runs are 2nd only to team leader Vic Speciale.
What sets Thomson aside from his peers is his consistency over his 9 year career. He's been one of the top players on the team since joining the club. He was never intimidated by the moment as shown in game 2 of the 2022 Elims, in a win or go-home game vs Erindale. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, Thomson lined a hard hit ball down to 1st base that the sure handed first baseman couldn't handle, which brought in the winning run.
Yannick Rickli
Would run through a brick wall to make a catch
In 2014 Yannick came to the Battlecats after he quarterbacked his way across Canada. After playing football at several levels for a number of years he decided to come home, settle down and play some baseball. The Battlecats were the recipients of a great athlete, leader and a very good ballplayer. What he brought with him, was his refreshing, football, do-whatever-it-takes-to-win attitude, even if you have to step on some toes along the way. He made everyone who played with him better because after seeing him give 110% even when he was hurting, so, why couldn't they.
Playing centre field Yannick often looked more like a receiver the way he ran down deep fly balls. He never had any regard for his body. During one game it was feared he might have bruised a rib on a diving catch, then made the same play a couple of innings later. His arm strength made news around the league, which was evident when teams wouldn't challenge his arm.
The seven-year veteran will never be accused of being a patient batter (never had more than 14 BB in a season), yet he was very disciplined at the plate, never striking out more than 18 times a season.
The 2019 COBA all-star prided himself for driving in the big run to tie or win the game, which was never more evident than what he did at the 2022 Elims. After losing their first game to Ilderton, the pressure was on the Royals to win out the double knockout tournament. After beating Erindale in the 9th the Royals had to play powerhouse Strathroy. With the Royals down by a run in the bottom of the 9th Yannick managed to hit a double scoring teammate Pinlac from 2nd, forcing extra innings. Again, the Royals found themselves down a run in the 10th. After a game tying sac fly, Yannick comes to the plate with Pinlac on 2nd. Yannick promptly smacks his 3rd pitch for a single scoring Pinner for the winning run. Mr. Clutch does it again.
The numbers are meaningless when you can contribute like he can. Oh yeah, he can pitch to.
