Men’s softball city league marking 90th anniversary with expansion
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Posted By MIKE DAVIES , EXAMINER STAFF WRITER
The Peterborough Men’s Softball Association city league has a number of new and exciting things planned for its 90th season.
On the field, a new team has stepped forward to give the league six teams. The White House spearheaded by Mike Craigen, finished second in the Douro league last year and is moving over to give the city league a shot.
Plans for the inaugural city league softball children’s camps for players in the Thunder rep program and another for Peterborough Community Church Softball League players were also confirmed during a league meeting on Wednesday.
Also, the inaugural Peterborough Shootout tournament is set for July 9-11 at East City Bowl and Kinsmen Diamond. Sixteen teams, including all six city league squads, will participate in the tournament.
To commemorate its 90th season, league officials hope to honour softball greats inducted into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame with signs in the park recognizing them.
While league president Scott Wasson said plans to bring back players from former league powerhouse Mr. Lube didn’t pan out, the league was bolstered by the addition of The White House.
They will join returning teams Douro P.G. Towns Store, who are three-time defending champions, Cavanagh Disposals, Bulletproof Fitness, Champs and a junior team which has yet to finalize its name.
Dates for the children’s camps are to be announced, but Wasson expects them to be on Sunday afternoons.
“We’re going to make an afternoon where the kids can come and learn from the guys in our league and then we’ll have a barbecue for them,” Wasson said. “We’ll have our league games that Sunday night and we hopes the kids will stick around and watch.
“We’ve never done it and you see in other sports, be it hockey or lacrosse, guys giving back to the game and helping to promote it. To be honest, fastball is a dying sport with this generation.
“We think if we can help the kids already playing it might encourage them to keep playing,” he said.
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The tournament will be a fundraiser for the league. Nine teams have already been confirmed.
“It will be the teams in our league plus some teams from around Ontario,” Wasson said. “I know the Cobourg Force team is coming with Wayne Wells and all those guys.”
Wasson said he expects to approach city council to see if they’re open to the league putting up signs or plaques to recognize past players.
“We’ll have to go through the parks and rec committee to get approval. It’s no different than what you see down at the Memorial Centre with lacrosse and hockey. We’re willing to cover the expense, we just need the approval,” Wasson said.
NOTE: Local artistGeorge Elliotthas agreed to design a logo for the city league. “We’ve never had a logo in 90 years which struck me as odd,” said league presidentScott Wasson.
mikedavies (at) peterboroughexaminer.com