Legends of Fastball Classic to Honour 2 More Fastball Legends
June 7, 2010
Kitchener, ON
One of the highlights of the Legends of Fastball Classic weekend each year is the ceremony to recognize the significant fastball contribution by some of the games great players, coaches, builders and officials from in and around southern Ontario. Over the past 6 years names like Dick Hames, Pete Landers, Darren Zack, Brian Paton, Brian Stere, Bruce Bierman and Karen Snelgrove have been honoured with their story in John Thompson’s Diamond Dirt and later in an on field ceremony in front of family and friends .
This year two more worthy recipients will be called out to accept the traditional Legends golf shirt and plaque.
George Ryder has been a part of Ontario fastball for 44 years. He has excelled as a pitcher, a coach, manager and executive member with the Ontario Amateur Softball Association. He has built Canadian Champions, been part of the provincial champions as a player and coach, has served both the OASA and Softball Canada as an assistant coach with Team Ontario and sits on numerous committees for the provincial and national softball bodies.
Bob “ Bongo” Baird will be the first person to be honoured posthumously by the Legends committee. Bongo lost his battle with cancer last Fall, but touched the lives of countless players, coaches and teams over his long career as one of the games most accomplished trainers. He served his game as at the highest level plying his trade for some of the greatest teams our game has ever known. Teams like Owen Sound Tiremen, Toronto Gators, Tampa Bay Smokers, the great County teams, All Car to name a few all kept their players in top playing condition with him on their bench. He was also a mainstay with the Canadian National Team and shared in numerous Pan Am Gold medals, an ISF championship and softball tours throughout the world. You would think his summers traveling would wear him out but Bongo slipped from one season to the next and carried on with his training expertise in hockey rinks throughout Ontario for many years as well.
The Legends ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m. on the main diamond at Peter Hallman Ball Yard, Saturday June 26.
The Legends Classic runs all weekend with games beginning Friday evening June 25 on 3 diamonds. The cost for a weekend pass is still the best deal in the game at $20 and that gets you over 30 games throughout the weekend. With 5 of the top 6 ranked ISC teams in the mix and a 4 team junior division as well, this should be the best men’s fastball event in Ontario this summer.
Book your schedule now, this will be fastball at its finest !
Larry Lynch
