Softball/Fastball
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Estlin 306's
The 306’s team began in 1972 when a meeting was organized to see if there was enough interest to form a team. The recruiters were Gary and Anita Ford and Leeta Gooding. It was quite a surprise when over thirty people showed up interested in playing ball! To continue the write-up follow the link to the #306 Sports Hall of Fame... Estlin Junior Girls/Bluejays
In 1972 the Estlin Junior Girls Softball team was organized and coached by Bill Phillips. Original players; Carla Boesch, Donna Boesch, Lori Boesch, Laura Bonsor, April Coghlin, Mary-Jo Diekrager, Shannon East, Karen Frei, Diane and Joanne Phillips, Joanne Strickland, Karen Wallace and Debbie Yeo. Katherine Marean was official scorekeeper. Bill Phillips coached this team until 1977 when Laverne (Duke) Gooding took over as coach assisted by Kris Boesch. The name Blue Jay's was chosen and uniforms are two tone blue with red and white trim. The team now included players Connie Black, Myrna Bonsor, Shelley Cross, Laurie Davis, Anita Ford, Lisa Frisk, Laurie and Kelly Fahlman, Marlene Gooding, Renee (Bechard) Gooding, Yvonne Gooding, Rhonda McDonald and Tracy Shostal. In 1981 the coach was Rod Lewis assisted by Shane Brunas. In 1982 Anita Ford took over coaching duties. Playing is done mostly at sports days and they have competed in a league which included Estlin, Milestone, Avonlea, Drinkwater, Stoney Beach, Grand Coulee, Pense and Rouleau. Since 1978 the Blue Jays, in conjunction with the Buck Lake Sharks, organized the Estlin sports days. In 1983 they built a home-run fence at the cost of $600. Excerpt from the ties that bind pg 24. |
Riceton Blues (by: Rochelle Balfour and Viola Glaze) (2005)
written for the 2005 the ties that bind Volume III
On July 12, 2003, a reunion of the Riceton Blues Ladies Fastball team was held at Gary and Anita Ford’s home at B-Say-Tah on Echo Lake. This was 15 years after the team played its last game in the Soo Line Ladies Fastball League. The year was 1988 and we beat Avonlea to win the league.
The Riceton team was started in the spring of 1980. The team practiced in Riceton and played in the Sports Day that year. We lost to Gray 20 – 7, but we sure had fun! Our first coach was Donnie Moats and a few of the first team members were: Lorraine Moyse, Norma Banga, Eleanor Baker, Lenore Schmeling, Danelle Kirkpatrick, Phyllis Walter, Sueanne McCracken, Viola (Hall) Glaze and Rochelle Balfour.
In 1981 and 1982, our confidence grew. We participated in Sports days in Gray, Estlin and Yellow Grass. Whether it was a Sports Day or a regular game, there was always good fan support from townspeople, parents and grandparents. There was also an abundance of kids, for many of the players had children. Husbands were called upon to handle things at home or during games. It was a great time. During this time, other coaches that helped the team were Don Zolc, Cliff Hubick and Randy Miller.
The Riceton Blues joined the Soo Line Fastball League in 1983. The league consisted of Milestone, Rouleau, Drinkwater, Pense, Avonlea and Riceton. That year, we lost the semifinal game to Rouleau 20 – 9. We were still perfecting our game!!
In l984 a few players from Gray joined the team. They included Anita, Atina and Cindy Ford, Val Wahl, Bev Wahl, and Rhonda MacDonald. Gary Ford and Bob Balfour started coaching the team. At our first meeting, we were all at the ball diamond in Riceton. Gary mentioned that we should really give up the name of the Riceton Rejects, if we wanted others to take us seriously. Our name was changed to the Riceton Blues and we all agreed that new uniforms were in order. Pense was our biggest rival that year. We lost to them both in the final at the Riceton Sports Day and in the league semifinal. The score was 2 - 1.
Whenever Gary saw someone get too feisty, he would yell, “Don’t get mad, get better!” The next year, 1985, we did just that. We were in the playoffs against Pense, in a best of three series. We won the third and final game in Riceton and our first league championship. Gary and Anita surprised us with cold champagne to celebrate our victory.
In 1986, we lost in the playoff to Rouleau. We won the first game 12 – 10, but the second game was a loss 19 –18. Not only did we lose this high scoring game, Anita tore her knee when she attempted to steal home. She ended up wearing a brace from her upper thigh to her ankle. We lost the last game, ending the season.
Every July 1st weekend had us at the Avonlea Sports Day. Avonlea was always one of our biggest rivals over the years. With kids and husbands along, some people camped, and we all picnicked together. We were one big, happy family and everyone enjoyed each other’s company.
Each year we would, of course, have a ball windup that different people hosted. The most memorable was at Gary and Anita’s in Gray. The team rented a hot tub. Everyone brought food and drink and Anita prepared her famous baked beans. Of course, Gary was always teased about going in the hot tub. His answer would be that he hadn’t gotten to Tent & Awning for a bathing suit. These were wonderful events we shared.
The highlights and memories of these years are very special. We would usually carpool to our away games. These were always great fun. We would meet at the ball diamond in Riceton, pile into whosever vehicle, and off we would go. The Gray people did the same. Sometimes after a game, a local establishment might be found to celebrate a win or pour over a loss. The trip home was usually a little quieter, but full of discussions on what happened that evening.
The last two years we played, l987 and l988, we won the league. Both finals were against Avonlea. With depopulation of the countryside and some of the players having more children, we no longer had enough players for a team. The problem was the same for the other towns, and the league folded.
I would like to list, to the best of my memory, the names of the players who were Riceton Blues over the years.
Erin Balfour, Rochelle Balfour, Norma Banga, Brenda Collacott, Roseann Debruyne, Anita Ford, Atina Ford, Cindy Ford, Viola Glaze, Danelle Kirkpatrick, Rhonda MacDonald, Sueanne McCracken, Shirley Miller, June Mitchell, Sylvia Oyka, Sharon Palmer, Lana Purves, Leah Purves, Lenore Schmeling, Bev Wahl, Val Wahl, Monica Wallace, Phyllis Walter, Loretta Webb, Betty Whiteman, Jo-anne Zolc
The reunion in 2003 was paid for by a small, but substantial bank account and gave us enough for one last great party. The money was earned from selling hundreds of rice crispy cakes, plus fifteen years of interest. As the sun was setting over B-Say-Tah we had a friendly game of ball. The Riceton Blues were once again victorious, beating the men by one run. We won’t mention that the men had to hit the ball on their opposite side. We were happy to leave without the aid of an ambulance.
My apologies to anyone I’ve missed. Thanks for the memories everyone. We miss you Gary!!
Riceton Blues (by: Rochelle Balfour and Viola Glaze) (2005)
written for the 2005 the ties that bind Volume III
On July 12, 2003, a reunion of the Riceton Blues Ladies Fastball team was held at Gary and Anita Ford’s home at B-Say-Tah on Echo Lake. This was 15 years after the team played its last game in the Soo Line Ladies Fastball League. The year was 1988 and we beat Avonlea to win the league.
The Riceton team was started in the spring of 1980. The team practiced in Riceton and played in the Sports Day that year. We lost to Gray 20 – 7, but we sure had fun! Our first coach was Donnie Moats and a few of the first team members were: Lorraine Moyse, Norma Banga, Eleanor Baker, Lenore Schmeling, Danelle Kirkpatrick, Phyllis Walter, Sueanne McCracken, Viola (Hall) Glaze and Rochelle Balfour.
In 1981 and 1982, our confidence grew. We participated in Sports days in Gray, Estlin and Yellow Grass. Whether it was a Sports Day or a regular game, there was always good fan support from townspeople, parents and grandparents. There was also an abundance of kids, for many of the players had children. Husbands were called upon to handle things at home or during games. It was a great time. During this time, other coaches that helped the team were Don Zolc, Cliff Hubick and Randy Miller.
The Riceton Blues joined the Soo Line Fastball League in 1983. The league consisted of Milestone, Rouleau, Drinkwater, Pense, Avonlea and Riceton. That year, we lost the semifinal game to Rouleau 20 – 9. We were still perfecting our game!!
In l984 a few players from Gray joined the team. They included Anita, Atina and Cindy Ford, Val Wahl, Bev Wahl, and Rhonda MacDonald. Gary Ford and Bob Balfour started coaching the team. At our first meeting, we were all at the ball diamond in Riceton. Gary mentioned that we should really give up the name of the Riceton Rejects, if we wanted others to take us seriously. Our name was changed to the Riceton Blues and we all agreed that new uniforms were in order. Pense was our biggest rival that year. We lost to them both in the final at the Riceton Sports Day and in the league semifinal. The score was 2 - 1.
Whenever Gary saw someone get too feisty, he would yell, “Don’t get mad, get better!” The next year, 1985, we did just that. We were in the playoffs against Pense, in a best of three series. We won the third and final game in Riceton and our first league championship. Gary and Anita surprised us with cold champagne to celebrate our victory.
In 1986, we lost in the playoff to Rouleau. We won the first game 12 – 10, but the second game was a loss 19 –18. Not only did we lose this high scoring game, Anita tore her knee when she attempted to steal home. She ended up wearing a brace from her upper thigh to her ankle. We lost the last game, ending the season.
Every July 1st weekend had us at the Avonlea Sports Day. Avonlea was always one of our biggest rivals over the years. With kids and husbands along, some people camped, and we all picnicked together. We were one big, happy family and everyone enjoyed each other’s company.
Each year we would, of course, have a ball windup that different people hosted. The most memorable was at Gary and Anita’s in Gray. The team rented a hot tub. Everyone brought food and drink and Anita prepared her famous baked beans. Of course, Gary was always teased about going in the hot tub. His answer would be that he hadn’t gotten to Tent & Awning for a bathing suit. These were wonderful events we shared.
The highlights and memories of these years are very special. We would usually carpool to our away games. These were always great fun. We would meet at the ball diamond in Riceton, pile into whosever vehicle, and off we would go. The Gray people did the same. Sometimes after a game, a local establishment might be found to celebrate a win or pour over a loss. The trip home was usually a little quieter, but full of discussions on what happened that evening.
The last two years we played, l987 and l988, we won the league. Both finals were against Avonlea. With depopulation of the countryside and some of the players having more children, we no longer had enough players for a team. The problem was the same for the other towns, and the league folded.
I would like to list, to the best of my memory, the names of the players who were Riceton Blues over the years.
Erin Balfour, Rochelle Balfour, Norma Banga, Brenda Collacott, Roseann Debruyne, Anita Ford, Atina Ford, Cindy Ford, Viola Glaze, Danelle Kirkpatrick, Rhonda MacDonald, Sueanne McCracken, Shirley Miller, June Mitchell, Sylvia Oyka, Sharon Palmer, Lana Purves, Leah Purves, Lenore Schmeling, Bev Wahl, Val Wahl, Monica Wallace, Phyllis Walter, Loretta Webb, Betty Whiteman, Jo-anne Zolc
The reunion in 2003 was paid for by a small, but substantial bank account and gave us enough for one last great party. The money was earned from selling hundreds of rice crispy cakes, plus fifteen years of interest. As the sun was setting over B-Say-Tah we had a friendly game of ball. The Riceton Blues were once again victorious, beating the men by one run. We won’t mention that the men had to hit the ball on their opposite side. We were happy to leave without the aid of an ambulance.
My apologies to anyone I’ve missed. Thanks for the memories everyone. We miss you Gary!!