Ottawa Rapidz end inaugural baseball season in last place

The Ottawa Rapidz are preparing for their second season despite finishing the 2008 inaugural campaign in last place.

The Worcester Tornadoes beat the Rapidz 8-3 Monday in the last game of the season, before about 5,000 fans in Ottawa.

With a 31-63 record, the Rapidz finished in the cellar of the Canadian American League (Can-Am), 27 games behind league-leading Quebec and out of the playoffs that begin Wednesday.

But that didn't discourage pitcher Mike Kusiewicz, who is from Ottawa.

"You realize it was the first season, you're going to have some growing pains and just start looking and building for next year," Kusiewicz said Monday while preparing for the final game.

He added the team has had loyal crowds at Ottawa Stadium throughout this season.

"The fans have been amazing here — considering our record and the weather this summer, how lousy both have been," he said.

Kusiewicz credited the players who stick around after the games and "sign autographs until the last kid is gone" — which didn't happen when the city was home to the Lynx triple-A baseball team.

The Lynx played a step below the major leagues and drew average crowds of less than 2,000 people per game in 2007, the last of 14 seasons in Ottawa.

Rapidz players 'personable': fan

Despite the Rapidz' less-polished play, their games were "far more entertaining" than those of the Lynx, said one fan attending Monday's game.

"And they're more personable with the crowd as well," said the man, who didn't want to give his name, but said he will definitely watch the team next year.

Ottawa and Quebec are the only Canadian teams in the league, which also has six U.S. squads.

Rob Hall, co-owner of the Rapidz, said despite its record, the team will also be back next spring, and draw on its strengths to put a better product on the field.

Hall said the team's current catcher and first baseman have been chatting with players from other teams in search of prospects interested in coming to Ottawa.

"We were shocked at the list they gave us back," said Hall, who said many want to play in Ottawa because it's a good city to live in and has the best stadium in the eight-team league.