LEGENDS2008AlDoran.doc
FIVE FASTBALL
“LEGENDS”
TO BE
HONORED
By John
Thompson
(
Congratulations
to the five honorees determined by the
Host Committee of the annual Legends Fastball Tournamnent
to be appropriately designated as “Fastball Legends”.
All
five will be honored today at 2 pm during ceremonies at the Peter Hallman
Fastball Classic Tournament in
“Legends” Criteria
Selections
of individuals who have been afforded recognition as part of the “Legends”
tournament are based on varying contributions
to the
fastball community and for their impact on the game.
Many
considered for nomination as a “Fastball Legend” participated in the game in a
by-gone eras, when the opportunities to be selected to a national team were limited.
Previous honorees include:
·
Players who had an
outstanding career in the Woodstock area – Bill
Fidlin, Chuck Hendricks, Dick Parker, Dan “Doc” Werby
·
Players who
represented
·
Players who had an
out standing career in women’s softball, at either the local, national or
international level – Lori Sippel, Marg Skillings,
Karen Snelgrove.
·
Individuals who
made significant contributions to the
game such as coaches, sponsors, administrators, media - Terry Baytor, Jack Fireman, Bruce Huff, Larry Lynch,
Joe Todd
·
True, unquestioned
legends of the game – Dick Hames, Pete Landers, Steve Virag,
Darren Zack
BRUCE BIERMAN
“Officiating Commitment”
Born – December 26, 1942
Hometown –
Once umpiring gets into your blood, it becomes
all-encompassing. Just ask
Bruce Bierman, a
member of the “blue” fraternity for more than a quarter century.
Bruce began his career with the Hespeler
Umpires Association in 1980, and became a carded Softball Ontario/Canada official
a year later.
In 1984, he officiated in his first provincial Sr.
Women’s championships in
In 1987, he umpired at his first Junior Women’s Championship
(
He served as the UIC for invitational and provincial tournaments,
including Waterloo CHYM’rs & Twins, Legends, Civitan Invitational Jamboree and the
Orillia World Series (all 10 years from 1998 to 2007).
Bruce earned Level 5 International Umpire Designation in
1997 and was appointed as the Deputy UIC for Men’s Fastball in 2001 for the Canada
Summer Games in
Bruce received the Softball Canada Umpire of the Year
Award in 1995, was inducted into Softball
Bruce
has four children – Debbie, Laurie, Christa and Jeffrey – and resides with spouse
Cheryl near
DAN DONAHUE
“Walking and talking”
Born –
Hometown –
Fastball
fans for decades know that Dan Donahue
can “talk the talk”. He also proved he could “walk the walk”
Dan’s accomplishments are
many and significant as he combined solid “in-your-face” defence
as a gold-glove figure at 1B, with a menacing posture in the batter’s box that consistently
resulted in solid extra-base hits.
From 1968 to 1975 Dan played for the Hespeler
Simplicity team contributing to a pair of Inter-city championships, a 1973 OASA crown,
and winning the batting title and earning MVP honours
in 1974.
During 1975-1980, he was a key member of
the successful Owen
Sound
King Farms team
that won OASA Senior title (1975) and was the OFL champion (1979), the same year
that Dan captured another batting championship (.340) & MVP title.
In 1981 he joined the Kitchener Edelweiss/Pride
of Canada
Club, the OASA runner-up to Sarnia Glis
in 1982.
Dan competed in nine world tournaments
with four different teams, and one ISF world tournament with Team
In 1984, at the OASA Eliminations in
Dan continues to immensely enjoy the
ball park camaraderie and is quick to engage an audience. Did he really “walk the walk”? Of course he did - just ask him!
BARRY MUSSELMAN
“Multi-skilled &
focused”
Hometown –
Born – August 9, 1955
A
graduate of Waterloo Minor Baseball and Kitchener Minor Softball, Barry Musselman was
the first KMSA product to compete at the senior level. He did so as a 19-year-old
junior and member of the Kitchener Evergreens and also played with
In
the mid-1980’s, he helped maintain senior ball in Waterloo, serving as a
Player-Coach in 1986-1987 and following retirement, once again coaching the
Twins in 1996-97.
During
the games, Barry was always fully focused and expected the same of his
team-mates. That was appropriately balanced following the challenges on the diamond
and he also knew how to party. However, at the opening pitch he was ALWAYS
prepared and competed with intensity.
In
the senior glory days of the 80’s and 90’s, when teams had to qualify to attend
national and international championships, Barry participated in six Canadian
championships and eight ISC tournaments.
During
a twenty year senior career,
(retired in 1994) “Muss” was an All-Star 2nd baseman
nine times, earned four league batting titles and was twice named as the
league’s MVP.
Barry
maintained his fastball involvement, coaching the Waterloo Juniors from 2000-05,
endeavoring to instill, in the younger players, his own passion and respect for
the game. He encouraged players with
skills to focus on the game from the first to last pitch, and display a
commitment to the game that he loved.
Barry
also excelled at hockey, competing for his hometown Waterloo Siskins and Wilfrid Laurier
University Golden Hawks.
Barry
is a 28-year employee of the City of
DOUG NEIL
“Skills to share”
Born – December 9, 1943
Hometown –
The
adage that “those that can, do” and “those that can’t, teach” may be true – but
not in the case of Doug Neil who has
combined his considerable skills on the mound, with a personable teaching style
that has resulted in his serving as a valued mentor and coach to a lengthy list
of accomplished young pitchers.
Doug
was born and raised in
After
his playing days he began coaching Wingham Int. C and
Juniors (OASA title) and helped organize the Bluewater Fastball League.
Doug
learned about teaching pitching from famous
He
was a pitching coach for Team Canada Junior Men’s team in 2005 at the Worlds and
assisted the Bridge To The Future program in the ISC
tournaments in
Many
of the pitchers he has assisted have advanced on pitching scholarships in the
Doug
graduated from
BRIAN STERE
“Longevity & impact”
Born – January 21, 1968
Hometown –
A
native of Tavistock, Brian Stere joined the Waterloo CHYM’rs as a “walk-on” in 1990 and attended his first ISC
World Tournament that same year in
In
1993, on a memorable
In
1994, Chubbs hit an unbelievable 10 for 10 in the ISC
Qualifier, and followed
with an ISC All-World catchers award in
Despite
many opportunities to move on, Chubbs became the
offensive mainstay of the Twins for his entire career.
He
retired in 2005, and it was poetic justice that in his last week with the Twins
he fashioned a twilight hitting rampage and an all-star berth at his final
Canadian Championships. As a gifted musician he made road trips special for
teammates throughout his career.
Chubbs is
the only Twin to have his sweater retired - 16 years for #16, with so many huge
hits, ending his career with 14 ISC World Tournament appearances.
Brian
enjoys his fastball retirement with his wife Danielle and two sons, Blake and
Carter. He is a successful self-employed contactor and enjoys golf, pick-up
hockey and sharing special times with family and friends.