Lightning Fastball History 1988-2003, Accomplishments (London Lightning Fastball)

1988
The London Girls Competitive Fastball Association was formed in 1988, with the intention of attracting the best players in the area in order to give these girls a chance to pay with others at a higher skill level. The LGCFA fielded three (3) teams in the inaugural 1988 season in which they were sponsored by Pete's Sports (Squirts) , domino's Pizza (Novice) and Petro-Canada (Bantam). It was a very successful first year with all three teams qualifying for the Ontario Grand Championships.
1989
In the their second season of existence, the LGCFA added a Midget level team sponsored by Copp's Buildall. The LGCFA initiated their annual Skills and Pitching Clinics in this 1989 season, giving the players the opportunity to develop and improve their potential as fastball players.
1990
In 1990, Vaughn Custom Sports sponsored the Senior team providing older players with opportunity to continue playing fastball in London. The 1990 season was "silver" for the association. At the Squirt Provincials, the LCGFA team took the silver medal. The bantam team participated in the Ontario Summer Games and also won the Silver medal. Jodi Gosnell was named Top Hitter at the tournament.
1991
The 1991 season was another successful year for the LCGFA. The Novice team won the Provincial Silver medal with Meghan Polson named Most Valuable Player and Julie Thornton taking the Top Hitter award. At the Bantam Ontario Championships the LCGFA team, sponsored by Shopper's Drug Mart, won the Bronze medal.
1992
A junior team was added in 1992, under the sponsorship of Pete's Sports. The highlight of the 1992 season was the first Ontario Championship for the LCGFA, which was won by the Novice Tier 1 team. The Skill Clinics found a new home at the Thompson Arena on the University of Western Ontario campus, thus providing more space and the ability to accommodate the growing number of participants. Swiss Chalet and Loeb joined the growing list of sponsors of the association.
1993
A Mite team was formed in 1993, under the sponsorship of Tim Hortons Donuts. The LCGFA had an extremely successful season, in which the Bantam Tier I team won the Provincial Championship and then the Bronze medal at the Eastern Canadian Championships. That same year the Squirt team won the Bronze medal of the Ontario Provincial Championships. At the Midget Provincials, Melissa Ross was named Top Pitcher. In addition, three (3) Midget players, were members of the Gold medal winning Ontario Team at the Canada Summer games held in Kamloops B.C. – Paul Dubecki, Jodi Gosnell, Jennifer Grierson.
1994
In 1994, the LGCFA took partial responsibility of the Annual "Dorothy Hill" fastball Tournament, as well as the development of Stronach Park, the home diamonds of the association. The Squirt team won the Silver medal at the Ontario Provincials with Melissa Finley being named the Top Pitcher and Deanna Griffin being named the Top Batter. The Mite Tier II team won the Bronze medal at their Provincial Championships where Jesse Coughlan was named both MVP and Top Batter.
1995
A second Midget team was added in 1995 and was sponsored by Ontario Water Products. The Association also became known as the London Lightning, complete with a new eye-catching Logo. This season saw (8) teams playing under the banner of the London Lightning.
1996
The bantam team had a tremendous season as they went undefeated at the Ontario Summer games with a record of 7-0 to win the Gold medal. They followed up by winning the Silver medal in St. Catherine's at the Eastern Canadian Championship. Our Mite team also had a great season, which resulted in a Bronze medal being won at the Provincial Championships.
1997
The 1997 season saw the LGCFA Novice team have great success. They traveled to Aurora for the Provincial Championships where they won the Silver medal, thereby qualifying for the Eastern Canadian Championships, which was held in Laval, Quebec. Individual honors went to Tara LeClair who was chosen as tournament MVP. Marcie Johnson was selected as tournament MVP with a batting average of .524 as the Novices went undefeated for seven (7) straight games as they won the Gold medal. The association also hosted the Midget National Tournament at Stronach that season.
1998
Considered a "rebuilding" year by many in the LGCFA, the London Lightning was only able to field four (4) teams in their respective Provincial championships. Our novice team finished third place and awarded the Bronze medal.
1999
Two (2) team were entered at the Bantam division, which increased our association's size to five (5) teams. This was a "learn" year for the LGCFA in regards to winning medals, however the Lightning played host to the 2001 Ontario Summer Games Evaluation tournament, in which twenty-five (25) Bantam teams participated.
2000
The Midget A team reach the Canadian National Championship in 2000 as result of the second place (Silver medal) finish at the Elimination tournament. The team brought the Bronze medal home from the Brandon Manitoba tournament. Outfielder Melissa Finley was selected to the Canadian Midget All-Star team. The Squirt team won the Gold medal at the Grand Valley Championships.
2001
The LGCFA introduced a website in 2001, which was a tremendous success from the outset. A new vision Statement was also created for out association. The Bantam Red team and Midget Red team both won Gold medals at the Grand Valley Championships.
2002
The 2002 season saw the Novice team finish with the Bronze medal at the Provincial Tier I Championship and as a result qualified for the Canadian National Tournament. The team finished in fifth place at the Nationals, which were held in Winnipeg. A Junior team was also re-introduced to the association during the year.
2003
In 2003, the LCGFA fielded a Mite team for the 1st time since 1996. The Association introduced new "dazzle" uniforms, which were well received by all of our players and the London Lightning a new look. Due to construction occurring at the Stronach facility, the annual London Lightning/ Dorothy Hill Tournament was held at the Soutwest Optimists Park on Exeter Road. We applied for and were the recipient of a grant of $11,500 from the Trillium Foundation. We had eight (8) teams in the association in this season. Mite through to Junior.