When ball players from four different teams of the Rick McDonald Memorial Fastball League hit the ball diamond on Whitefish Lake First Nation come this Wednesday May 25th , it will be the jubilee anniversary of fastball in Greater Sudbury going back to 1951 . In those early days , there  were only two sports for the people to appreciate that of hockey in the Winter season and fastball in the Summer . Back in the day during my younger years and teen days there were no less than 30 to 40 fastball teams in the region . It was great fastball to observe and appreciate . In the day the crowds were large at no less than 500 for each game . Silver collection would help pay for the umpires and the minor officials (scorekeepers) . Mostly Queens Athletic field (backstop where the present day concession booth is) and O’Connor Park were used . Later after the loss of these excellent sites all games were played at the Sudbury Stadium where the present day Data Centre stands . I remember walking from the Flour Mill to Queens than I became in my teen and early adult years the scorekeeper and play by play man at O’Connor Park .Through the late 80’s and early 90’s fastball deteriated somewhat but it has slowly returned where the Rick McDonald Memorial Fastball is in tact for its 20th season .You can come and see games in doubleheaders (7 and 9 PM) in Azilda at the Rick McDonald Memorial Fields in Azilda on Mondays'; at the Lorne Brady Memorial Park in Garson on Thursdays and at the Whitefish Lake First Nation Field on Wednesdays . If you come out you won’t be disappointed  and be in for a treat . The four teams in action this year are the defending champions the Sudbury North  Stars under the direction of Junior Ilnitski ;the Garson Hounds with Bryan Welsh ;the Pickerel River Cardinals with Ed Panamick and Pat Brennan Junior  and finally the Whitefish Lake First Nation Falcons . If you’re out there you might catch me for some schedules and questions . Later this Summer the league will be hosting the 6th annual All Star game .the Rick McDonald tournament on the weekend of June 10th and the Northern Ontario Fastball Championship on the third weekend of August .

 

  Keep fit  !   Have Fun !  See you on the fastball diamonds !