CALEB NICKERSON
SHAWVILLE
Sept. 17-18, 2020
Elwood Dale Park in Shawville was alive with fast and slow pitch action, as the annual RA ball tournament got underway on Friday night.
Organizer Matt Greer explained that the fundraiser has been going on for at least the past five years and said that . . .
even with the restrictions they had to abide by, eight teams turned out to play in the double elimination tournament.
“It’s just to keep the ball field in shape, we’ve been putting money into it for the last 10 years,” he said. “It’s getting used a lot so we want to [handle] the upkeep and make some improvements. We’re getting our backstop done, so hopefully we’ll have that done in the fall. Some money will go to that, some will go to other programs.”
He added that there would be two exhibition fastball games to start things off on Saturday, as a way to showcase the Shawville Men’s Fastpitch league, which begins playoff season on Sept. 24.
Prior to the first game between the Bristolview Ent. Athletics and the Trudeau Collision Brewers, a moment of silence was held in honour of two local umpires who passed away recently.
George Findlay, posted near first base for the game, spoke to THE EQUITY on Sunday about one ump in particular, Ted Metcalfe, who was well known to the players in Shawville, Quyon and throughout the Ottawa Valley.
Findlay umpired alongside Metcalfe for several decades and referred to him as his best friend. He said that they had officiated all levels of the game, from international professional events down to local recreation leagues.
“He was a tremendous umpire and we always enjoyed doing all those games,” he said. “The players at the diamond yesterday, they all knew me and they all knew Ted.”
Ted was known as being tough but fair, and commanded the respect of the players on the field.
“He was well-loved by the umpiring community, he was well loved by all the ball players and coaches,” Findlay said.
The Brewers ended up taking out the Athletics 3-2, with the second game seeing Gannon/Blackburn Electric Inc. Bucks pulling out a tight 7-6 victory over the Tubman Autobody Twins.
As for the slow pitch, perennial winners Willow Hollow Farms took first place in the tournament final on Saturday with a perfect 4-0 record. Greer said that two days of play brought in a grand total of roughly $3,800.
