Barry Wright/The Independent

A long-standing sports tradition in East Lambton is coming to an end, at least for this season.

The Alvinston Aces will not field a team this year in the Southwest Middlesex Men’s Fastball
League due to a lack of player interest.

The Aces were the last remaining competitive men’s fastball club in Sarnia-Lambton.

The Aces, and its predecessor, the Indians, have been a mainstay in the area for nearly three
decades.

The Indians won an ISC Tier 2 world title in 2002 and the Indians/Aces finished in the top four,
three times at world championship events between 2005 and 2022.

“I certainly don’t want to say the doors are closed forever,” said Team Manager Andy Triest
told to The Independent. “But it’s probable.”

He says a lack of minor boys’ fastball has caused a decline in the sport locally.

“With no Junior Aces team anymore, plus not a lot of fast pitch played locally, the end is likely
here,” he added.

The Aces were second in the regular season standings last season with a 17-2 record last
season.

After sweeping Charing Cross in the playoff quarterfinals, they lost in two straight games to St.
Thomas in the semifinals.

If the team is gone for good, its final game was a 6-4 loss to the Storm in Fingal on September
8, 2024 and its final home game was a 7-1 setback to the Storm on September 3.

Triest says he, Aaron Stocking and Jamie Shields plan to play in Glencoe this season while
pitcher Bailey Whiteye will play for Moraviantown, near Bothwell.