Brantford Minor Softball Association
(B.M.S.A.)
Promoting Fair-Play and Good Sportsmanship since 1957
SUMMER NEWSLETTER
www.brantfordsoftball.ca Edition 4 May/June 2007
2007 Season Opening Welcome take every opportunity to help promote this great sport. More
younger participants & volunteers are needed to keep Brantford
From the President.... Minor Softball growing. I can’t think of a better way to spend
one’s summers than on the bleachers cheering on your favou-
I am pleased once again to welcome everyone back from rite team or participating in a softball game yourself. Positive
previous years & extend a great big welcome to any new encouragement & enthusiasm from parents go a long ways
fresh faces amongst us. Yes, Brantford Minor Softball’s 2007 toward the development of a happy child on the field. Just
season is well under way! After many months of organizing, remember it’s only a game & it’s meant to be fun!
meetings, phone calls, emails & registration booths, I am
very happy to report that we have approximately 429 children Last but not least ..... Happy 50th Birthday,
registered with Brantford Minor Softball this year. Thank you Brantford Minor Softball. To all past & present
to the entire B.M.S.A. Executive for what you have all done to individuals who have been involved with the organization
get this season up & going. over the past 50 years, thank you for all you’ve done for
We officially began our 2007 house league season with an Open the kids in minor softball.
House for the younger girls division in April. Prizes, free regis- Sincerely,
trations, 50th anniversary cake & balloons were brought out for Christine Humble
the event drawing in about 25-30 girls. Our younger girl divi- B.M.S.A. President
sions; Sr. Mite & Squirt seem to be down in numbers this year
so we tried something new to entice the younger gals to come
out & experience what softball is all about. We will as an orga-
nization persevere to get these numbers up for next year but we
need your help! Please spread the word what a great game this Brantford Minor Softball
is for kids to get involved in especially for girls! It helps build
self esteem & teaches teamwork. Our All Star/Select divisions
are living proof that softball is alive & well with five super rep
teams that have aspired to higher levels.
I am very pleased to report that our boys division is thriving
with 151 registrants this year. The boys house league division
Opening Tournament Weekend was held from May 25, 26 &
27 with many eager participants at the diamonds. The girls
division followed with their Opening Tournament Weekend
from June 1st until the 3rd. A special thank you to all Head
Coaches & Assistant Coaches who have stepped up to the plate
to volunteer their services. Without your involvement with the
kids, this organization would not be possible.
Also, many, many thanks to the wonderful financial support of
our sponsors. We have many new sponsors that came on board
this year. On behalf of The Brantford Minor Softball Associa-
tion, thank you to all companies & individuals involved, we
appreciate your fantastic support!
Softball is just not a game but a connection to many new &
old friendships. The memories of good friendships over the
years from softball always bring a smile to my face. Please
lET’S cELEBRATE!
Page 1 of 8
Boys Division Girls Division
Sr. Mites: Sr. Mites:
H. Coach Frank Boerboom H. Coach Ted Thomas
Score: Score:
MVP: Brandon Lee-Christopherson MVP: Sarah Casler
vs vs
H. Coach Lloyd Baker H. Coach Lynn Nevinger
MVP: Austin Wagenaar MVP: Sydne Decker
Score: Score:
Squirt/PeeWee: Squirt/Novice:
H. Coach Paul Krueger
H. Coach Dianne Colitti Score:
Score: MVP: Leah Schoemann
MVP: Dalton Laughlin vs
vs H. Coach Cindy Poirier
H. Coach Andy Flatt
MVP: Emily Poirier
MVP: Ben Crocock Score:
Score:
Bantam/Midget:
Bantam/Midget: H. Coach Paul McMillan
H. Coach Don Lockhart Score:
Score: MVP: Christine Johnson
MVP: Billy Minnery vs
vs H. Coach John Stonham
H. Coach Ron Markell
MVP: Natty Caverly
MVP: Josh Legere Score:
Score:
Awesome Job! Great Teamwork!
Page 2 of 8
50th Anniversary
B.M.S.A. “catchy” ball t-shirts
NOW ON SALE
$ 00
Don’t Be Disappointed,
Get Yours Today!
Limited Sizes & Quantities
Available.
15. each
Sold at the Jaycee Park Concession Stand or Contact Your Convenor
Fundraiser for Brantford Minor Softball!
Page 3 of 8
“ THANK YOU ” NEW!
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The B.M.S.A. would like to thank all of our sponsors for their r Softb
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fantastic financial support. These funds help us to buy uniforms, ord M
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Watch out for Player of the Week gift certificates
generously donated by Philthy McNasty’s of Brantford.
These gift certificates will be awarded to a player of each
division per week. The gift certificate includes ONE
FREE MEAL on the house at Philthy McNasty’s
(within a validated time period).
Congratulations to all players from the house league
divisions who will receive one of these awards!
AWARDED froM
Rogers Sportsnet,
“Canadas #1 Sports Bar”
In 2005
Than k You!
To The Generosity of Our Sponsor:
Philthy M cNasty’s
Bar and Sports Grill
456 Fairview Drive, Brantford
Help Support This NEW Bar & Sports Grill by Taking Your
Family or Friends There for Lunch, Supper or Snacks!
Page 4 of 8
As the sport became more popular having been called “kitten ball, mush
Stepping Back in Time ball & pumpkin ball”, leagues starting forming across the States. At the
The Early Years of Softball...... height of the Depression in 1933, softball’s popularity had grown to na-
tional proporations in the U.S. The first national softball tournament was
The sport that we know today as “softball” can be traced originally back to played at the Chicago World’s Fair with 24 teams; 16 mens’ teams & 8
the sixteenth century British version of a popular bat & ball game called ladies’ teams playing both fastpitch & slowpitch. Softball continued to
rounders or townball. spread to the rest of the world with perhaps having it’s biggest push from
World War II American servicement playing the game during their off
In North America, it has been recorded that the first softball game was times. In 1951, the first National Softball Week was declared & that same
played indoors in 1887 on Thanksgiving Day in Chicago between a year, the first licensed female umpire was hired.
group of former Harvard & Yale students at a boat club. During a
post-game football celebra- tion, lots of bets were taking Toward the end of the second decade of the 20th century,
place and once Yale had emerged victorious, the Canadian amateur players began to play the new game
debts were paid. Dur- ing the excitement, one outdoors on playgrounds or suitable playing fields. During the early years,
of the happy Yale boosters picked up a the rules of softball were always in a constant state of flux. The size of the
boxing glove and playfully threw bat and ball and the exact rules varied as much as the name itself. Men
it at one of the Harvard fans & women of all ages played the game. Early uniforms were very plain
who knocked it away with mostly white heavy cotton material with simple padded smaller gloves.
a broom handle. Soon after, the At one point, 10 players were on a team including four outfielders to help
glove was replaced with a ball, the counter the heavy hitting. It has been rumoured that only the pitchers &
broom handle became a bat. A reporter from catchers used gloves. Can you imagine that? The pitcher’s uniform un-
the Chicago Board of Trade, George Han- derwent a drastic change in 1941, as the “hurlers” came to look more like
cock, was watching this unfold and thought that it undertakers, with uniforms all black or dark blue with no lettering or trim
could be used as a game. That night a game took place with 80 of any kind on front or back.
runs scored and from hence our game of softball was born. Hancock set
up rules and had his friends over to his house every Saturday night to play By 1965, the game was experiencing rapid growth in Canada.
this new exciting game. From there it spread all over Chicago and it has Softball Canada was established as a national association to
been said that the first softball rulebook was issued by Hancock in 1889. encourage participation, develop excellence in skills and institute proper
rules & regulations. Softball has certainly found it’s place in the hearts of
those who play it and in the souls of those who watch it. Let’s play ball!
Old So ball Items Courtesy of the
Brant Museums & Archives
Thank You to:
Stephanie Rymon-Lipinski
Museum Technician
www.brantmuseum.ca
Different divisions have been introduced over the years. Two grassroot
Strolling Down Memory Lane programs of the Timbits & Jr. Mites have gained popularity over the years
Brantford Minor’s Early Beginnings... enhancing the idea of fun in the sport de-emphasizing the competitive
aspect for the younger participants. Presently, the Boys Division is
Six very enthusiastic softball ladies can be given credit to the early start increasingly growing with record numbers for the House League.
of Brantford’s early minor softball beginnings. Those ladies were: Isabel
Mandich (first lady of softball in Brantford), Colleen Titmus, Doreen Brantford Minor Softball is still known as a driving competitive force for the
Newton, Leila Johnson, Mary Elsden & Marg Wilde. Initially, the organi- All-Star & Select teams. Just last August, our All-Star PeeWee Girls won the
zation was for girls only calling itself the Brantford Minor Girls Softball Canadian Championships here in Brantford & won the Provincial level as
Association (BMGSA). well. The success of Brantford Softball can all be attributed to the tireless
efforts of its’ volunteers, coaches & players who strive for excellence in
In 1991, the girls decided to invite the boys to play ball & the name the game. Fun is always at the forefront for all those who play from a
evolved to Brantford Minor Softball Association. Their original house league or All-Star view. Great passion & enthusiasm for the game
intent was to encourage the growth of a strong house league division is shown to the kids. If you would like to get involved, please drop us
which would ultimately feed an all-star system further down the road. a line on our website at: www.brantfordsoftball.ca. Fresh, positive
outlooks are always welcome!
Page 5 of 8
Sarah & friends from approximately
4 years ago.
Submi ed by Sarah Miller
A Stroll Down Memory Lane
Newspaper write-ups & pictures on the following pages
Submi ed by Past President of the B.M.S.A. Ray Leonowens. THANKS RAY!
Page 6 of 8
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THIS ISSUE IS DEDICATED
TO ALL PLAYERS &
VOLUNTEERS PAST & PRESENT
OF THE B.M.S.A.
“Promoting Fair-Play and
Good Sportsmanship since 1957”
Page 8 of 8