Elliott: Romanin and partner bringing college ball to Niagara
Part-owner Mal Romanin (Thorold, Ont.) of the Niagara Ironjacks of the Perfect Summer college league.
February 20, 2025
By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network
St. CATHARINES, Ont. _ The first player selected by the Montreal Expos in the 1968 expansion draft was outfielder Manny Mota.
The first player under contract by the Toronto Blue Jays was catcher Phil Roof obtained from the Chicago White Sox, the day before the 1976 expansion draft.
The first player to lead the 1986 St. Catharines Blue Jays both in home runs (15) and RBIs (49) was first baseman Julian Yan. The runner up was future Atlanta Braves postseason hero catcher Francisco Cabrera.
And the first player signed by the Niagara Ironjacks ... ta da ... Ethan Catney-Forbes. RHP Catney-Forbes (Burlington, Ont.), of the St. Bonventure Bonnies, signed with the Ironjacks after pitching for the Ontario Royals and the Great Lake Canadians.
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Before we go into more detail about the Catney-Forbes we should tell you about the new kids on the block.
The Niagara Ironjacks are Ontario’s second venture into the ever-growing summer college ball craze ... the Perfect Game league. The 16-team league is for college players who are returning to school. The Thunder Bay Border Cats play in the Northwoods League.
The first Ontario venture is the brainchild of former Toronto Blue Jays P.R. executive Mal Romanin and his silent partner. Romanin unveiled plans for this summer, with Rod Mawhood as MC before a packed house at DeCew Falls Brewing. As you should know DeCew Falls is a wild waterfall in St. Catharines -- a distant cousin of Niagara Falls.
Being accepted into the PG loop was no easy task for Romanin, who worked for the Toronto Blue Jays for 12 years, before leaving eight seasons go. Romanin received approval Nov. 24, 2024. He came up with the idea -- so successful in the west -- to search for the right fit more than a year before. He looked at the New York State League and then the Great Lakes League.
The Great Lakes League was receptive, according to Romanin.
“But why leave here? This is where I live,” said the Thorold resident. “Perfect Game was the right fit for us.”
The worst part of the process? The ups and downs. The best part?
“Today, it’s a celebration ... our official launch after all those months of preparation,” said Romanin.
St. Catharines mayor Mat Siscoe and Jim Bradley, Niagara Region Chair and CEO, are on board and spoke with enthusiasm about the game, the idea and the concept. Travis Cairns and Brett Read, owner of the DeCew Fall Brewery were also on hand. And Romanin’s podcast pal Richard Griffin of Griff’s the Pitch was there, too.
More lights and a new scoreboard have been added to Taylor Field. And after year one, a new drainage system will be laid underneath the field. A party deck is planned for left field. As well, new netting and fencing will be added.
The park has seating for 1,500, including 360 seats with backs and he hopes to add 300 box seats in front of the existing front row. He hopes to reach 2,000 seats.
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WHAT: Perfect Game CollegiateLeague.
Founded: 2010. First Season: 2011 Regular Season Games: 46
ELIGIBILITY: Eligible players must have remaining college eligibility or be a high level graduate with big-league scout interest for the July draft. Graduated high school seniors that will attend a two-year or four-year college in the fall are also eligible, subject to Perfect Game USA approval, with a limit of four per team.
WHO: East Division – Albany Baseball Club, Amsterdam Mohawks, Boonville Lumberjacks, Glens Falls Dragons, Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs, Oneonta Outlaws, Saugerties Stallions, Utica Blue Sox and the Watertown Rapids.
West Division – Auburn Doubledays, Batavia Muckdogs, Elmira Pioneers, Geneva Red Wings, Jamestown Tarp Skunks, Newark Pilots, Niagara Falls (NY) Americans and the Ironbacks. Christian Dolce, the Jamestown owner -- and yes they are named the Tarp Skunks -- was in attendance.
WHERE: The Ironbacks will play at George Taylor Field, current home park for the Niagara Metros of the Central Ontario League and the Brock University Badgers.
WHEN: June 5 is the season opener when the Ironbacks visit Jamestown and on Sturdy June 7 the home opener will be played when Niagara Falls N.Y. comes to St. Catharines. East will play East and West will play West during the regular season and never the twain shall meet -- until the playoffs begin on July 28.
HISTORY: The Jays were not being proud Canadians when they placed a franchise there. You see work visas were not needed to play in St. Catharines, so many years the rosters were filled with Canadian and Latin players.
BLUE JAYS/STOMPERS HISTORY: Some talented future Jays called the park -- then known as Community Park home -- RHP Pat Hentgen (1986), a 1992-93 World Series winner, 1996 AL Cy Young award winner, three-time all-star, a Canadian Hall of Fame inductee; C Carlos Delgado (1989) two-time all-star, 473 homers, more RBIs than Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle, two-time all-star, 2015 Canadian Hall of Fame inductee; INF Jeff Kent (1989) five-time all-star, 2000 NL MVP; INF Chris Weinke (1991) 2000 Heisman Trophy winner; OF Rob Butler (East York, Ont.) 1991, World Series winner in 1993; OF Shannon Stewart (1993), former first round pick, fourth in 2003 AL MVP; Vernon Wells (1997) three-time all-star, former first rounder and former GM Ellen Veronica Harrigan, now a Los Angeles Dodgers executive.
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Alberta and Saskatchewan have 12 teams in the Western Canadian Baseball League for college leagues ... with the Medicine Hat Mavericks, Sylvan Lake Gulls, Lethbridge Bulls, Brooks Bombers, Fort McMurray Giants, Edmonton Prospects and defending champ Okotoks Dawgs, as well as the Regina Red Sox, Saskatoon Berries, Moose Jaw Miller Express, Weyburn Beavers and Swift Current in Saskatchewan.
And the 16-team West Coast League has Victoria HarbourCats, Nanaimo NightOwls, Kelowna Falcons and the Kamloops NorthPaws in British Columbia, as well as the Edmonton Riverhawks in Alberta.
The New York League has 10 teams (Syracuse Salt Cats, Sherrill Silversmiths, Watertown Rapids, Rochester Ridgemen, Olean Oilers, Dansville Gliders, Salamanca Lizards, Genesee Rapids, Horseheads Hitmen and the Hornell Steamers).
The Great Lakes has eight teams (Flag City Sluggers, Muskegon Clippers, Michigan Monarchs, Lima Locos, Grand Lake Mariners, Xenia Scouts, South Ohio Copperheads and the Hamilton Joes).
Romanin made the rounds as a guest with CHCH’s Clint (Bubba) O’Neil
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One oddity of the PG league is the fact Robbie Nichols (Hamilton, Ont.) owns three of the 16 teams. Nichols skated for the Kitchener Rangers, Dixie Beehives and North Bay Centennials before being drafted by the Phildelphia Flyers. He then played for Fredericton Express, Kalamazoo Wings, Adirondack Red Wings, Phoenix Roadrunners, San Diego Gulls, Detroit Falcons, Flint Generals and Elmira Enforcers. Nichols owns Batavia, Niagara Falls (NY) and Elmira.
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The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Catney-Forbes was a redshirt in 2024 and did not pitch in the Bonnies’ four-game series against Gardner-Webb. Last year, he was on the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
In 2022 at Aldershot High School, he led the team in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, while at the plate, he hit a team-high nine home runs, while leading the team in RBIs, slugging percentage, and OPS. He was part of the Burlington Bulls that won a COBA title in 2016 and he was named MVP in 2016 and 2017.
He grew up a Blue Jays but his favourite player is Shohei Ohtani.
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Romanin and his group have 107 days to find players, a manager, coaches, a place for players to board, sell outfield advertising, organize season tickets, sign with a company who prints tickets, find a groundskeeper, tarps and 50 more things we can’t think of right now.
And somewhere at the end of a 30-hour day he might need a cold one. No problem. DeCew Falls Brewing brewmaster James Woodruff has plans for Mal’s brand both a Dead Red IP and an Ironback Lager on sale at the ball yard or at the brewery.
But taking a breath he’s asked his most memorable moment during his dozen years with the Blue Jays.
“Obviously Jose Bautista’s bat flip game,” said Romanin, “but besides that it would be conversations with Cito Gaston. It was like going to baseball school, listening to him tell stories about rooming with Hank Aaron, Dusty Baker and Willie Horton.”
Romanin who built excellent relationships with LHP Ricky Romero, RHP Aaron Sanchez and 2B Devon Travis and other players while working for the Jays has a long way to go, but we wish Our Pal Mal, a good man and good friend all the best of luck in this gigantic undertaking.