Rezbirds attain perfect season

The Rezbirds are this year’s Kahnawake Mixed Softball League (KMSL) champions, winning their second championship in a row, both against The Boyz, and fourth in seven years.

They did not drop a single game all season, adding clean sweeps of the Yankees and Boyz in the playoffs to their 12-0 regular season.

“It’s a really big accomplishment to go undefeated in this league. Some games you don’t have your full lineup, but it’s tough, and you’ve got to scrape out some wins. We had a lot of tight games towards the end of the season,” said Rezbirds captain Kawisaienton McComber.

“All season long we had the bats and the gloves going, which helped us go undefeated during the season,” said his cousin and Rezbirds’ teammate Zander McComber.

“Playoffs were the same, players stepped up when we needed them. All around, a great team effort.”

The Rezbirds won game one against The Boyz 19-11 on August 27. Game two was originally scheduled for the 28th but was postponed due to rain, being played instead on September 2.

The Rezbirds won that game as well, 14-4, to clinch the championship.

Following the win, Rezbirds players were surprised by Zander each given them a championship ring.

“It’s pretty cool. Some of the kids got some, it’s pretty exciting,” said Kawisaienton.

The KMSL is a league where families members often play together, given an added incentive for players to join or compete hard for their teammates. That’s especially true of the Rezbirds, who not only have the McComber cousins on the roster, but also Herby Lahache and his two daughters, Storm and Meadow.

“This was a very special year for me as I not only got to play with my two daughters, but I also got to win a championship with them,” said Lahache.

Kawisaienton said they have kept the same core together for a few years, and are hoping they can run it back for the three-peat.

“I think we have a good core here. Everybody gets along really well, and we just like coming to the field and having fun,” he said.

On the Boyz side, team owner Ryan Cross said that their team played well in the finals, but they were not able to capitalize on their opportunities.

“I feel like we just couldn’t get our bats going, we couldn’t get the hits,” said Cross.

Although it was a strong year for both finalist teams, it was a difficult one as a whole for the KMSL, as scheduling and attendance issues plagued teams throughout the summer - so much so that only the Boyz played the full 16-game schedule.

“I invite community members to reach out to KMSL captains if interested in playing next year. There are opportunities for skilled development to continue from baseball and softball leagues and post minor baseball in a competitive, family-oriented atmosphere,” said KMSL commissioner Ryan Montour.

“It’s been tough the last couple seasons, with not a lot of players showing up,” said Kawisaienton. “It would be nice to get more younger people involved and make the league stronger again.”

Cross had a suggestion of implementing a minimum of two 17-year-old players per roster to bring in the younger players.

He acknowledged that some of the older players who have kids of their own in organized sports won’t be able to come to every game, but they should still come and play when they can.

“You have to make your bench a little bit bigger for those parents that can’t make it,” said Cross.

He, and many others, did say that the KMSL was a great place to play some ball, no matter the record or the outcome.

“If you love playing baseball or softball, you need to come out and play. It’s great softball that we play,” said Cross.

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