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PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, August 12, 1986 -- § B Vi a Wf P oO - mM by John B. McClelland Two weekends ago, I made several trips to Oshawa to watch my ten-year old son play softball in the annual McLaughlin tournament for House League teams. It was a three-day tournament, more than 100 teams taking part and each team guaranteed five games. My son'plays on a team in the Port Perry Squirt House League. There were three other Port Perry Squirt teams entered in this tournament, and several other teams from Port Perry in the Pee Wee age group. From the point of view of a parent, the Oshawa tour- nament was a bit of an eye-opener. First of all, the Port Perry Squirt teams did not do very well. Not one ad- vanced beyond the round-robin. I believe that of the 20 games played by the four Squirt House League teams, there were two victories. Mostly, the local teams suf- fered defeats, and often by big margins, like 33-0, 24-0 and 17-0. I heard several Port Perry parents be-moaning the fact that their kids teams were hopelessly out of their league, unable to handle the very tough competition they aced. And to be perfectly frank, I felt the same way as I watched my son's team get thoroughly thumped in several games. I wondered why they were even there, trying to compete against well-oiled machines from Scarborough, Brampton and Oshawa. Many times over the weekend, I heard Port Perry parents remark at how the level of competition in Port Perry House Leagues is lagging so far behind the levels in other communities. On the surface, this would seem to be true. In the first place, the Port Perry teams in the Squirt KIDS AND COMPETITION Division ran into some significant rule changes that were in place for the Oshawa tournament. Windmill pitching was allowed. This style permits a full wind-up, the pitching arm moves in a "windmill fashion." The result is a great deal of velocity on the pitches. In Squirt House Leage play, pitchers must toss the ball in true under-hand fashion. Some of the pitchers I saw on other teams simply over-powered the Port Perry boys with their speed and stuff. The tournament rules allowed base stealing and 'they also allowed the batter to run to first if the catcher dropped the ball on a third strike. Both these rules are not used in the Port Perry House League play. And in the games I saw in that tournament, base stealing and the third strike rule gave the Port Perry teams as much trouble as the fast pitching. There were other more subtle obstacles facing the Port Perry teams. Uniforms, for example. Members of the Port Perry teams are given a cap and matching jersey as a uniform. That's it. Most of the other teams - had full softball uniforms, matching jerseys, pants, stockings and real baseball shoes. Our guys wore blue jeans or track pants and an assortment of sneakers. So what, you say. Uniforms don't make a team any better. Sorry, but perfectly co-ordinated uniforms do make a difference. Wearing a sharp uniform makes players FEEL like they are part of a team, a unit. I know for a fact that many of the Port Perry boys were slightly in awe at the sight of the opposition taking the field in the first inning. Before the first pitch was ever thrown, they were at a psychological disadvantage. If you think ten-year old kids don't notice things like uniforms on the other players, then you don't know kids very well, While I heard comments that the Port Perry teams were so far out of their element etc., etc., I also heard comments from parents that the experience was a good one for the boys. It is good to face a superior level of competition once in a while, it's good to compete and do your best in a top calibre tournament, it's a learn- ing experience and a lot of fun. Sorry, but I've played and coached enough team sports to know that ten year old kids are not having fun when they are whipped 33-0 or 24-0. Sure, they forget pretty quickly after the game is over, but when you're out on the field, or on the ice at the arena and your team is losing by a whopping score, you can't wait for the game to end. A fun experience? A learning experience? Hardly. The attitude displayed by some of the players on opnosition teams was troubling. They seemed to take sreut satisfaction in running up a humiliating score. ° They knew they were the better team by far and they were ribbing it in at every opportunity. In one game, my son's team was down by a dozen runs and had ab- - solutely 1*o chance of catching up. The opposition coach kept pushing Lis players for more runs. I became a lit- tle angry at this and after the game I asked him why he wouldn't let up a bit with the game out of reach. He looked at me like I was crazy and replied in so many words that his players are not taught how to let up. If the Port Perry teams weren't having much fun getting swamped by big scores, 1 wonder how much real (Turn to page 6) Yesterday's Memories 60 YEARS AGO Thursday, August 12, 1926 In one of the largest votes ever cast in Port Perry, the School by-law was carried with a 248 majority. 315 Ratepayers voted down 67 on the issue of building a new school. Tenders are being opened to be considered by the Board of Education. About fifty Sir Knights of Blackstock and vicinity attended divine service at the United Church, Blackstock on Sunday. The procession was lead by the Port Perry band. Mr. Frank Crosier, who has been running a general store at Man- chester for some years has sold his business to Mr. Arthur Crosier of Port Perry. Notice has been given in Council that a By-law will be prepared and put through Council to the effect that all milk for human con- sumption in Port Perry must be pasturized. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, August 9, 1951 Lois Sandison accompanied her mother Mrs. Ross Sandison to Toronto on Tuesday. Mrs. Sandison has completed her music course this week. Mr. and Mrs. Zylstra and children of Holland arrived Saturday and are staying with Mr. and Mrs. John Simpson, Pine Grove. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday. August 17, 1961 A caravan of old cars from the Horseless Carriage Club of Southern Ontario passes through Port Perry on the Civic Holiday. Two cars held personal interest for some local residents - one car, a 1918 4 cylinder Buick had been sold by Cec. Beare - father of Bill and Storey and the other, a 1932 Ford once travelled the local streets driven by Dr. Rennie. Dr. Walter Smeltzer of Port Perry, has become an Associate Pro- fessor of Metallurgical Engineering. He joined the staff of the new Engineering Faculty in 1960. 20 YEARS AGO 0 Thursday, August 11, 1966 Ten-year-old Shelley Olsen of Prince Albert has been announc- ed a winner of a bicycle kit in the Elmer Summer Safety Contest. Congratulations to Keith Phoenix, Greenbank, who has just returned from a week in Manitoba. This is a 4-H Club Centennial trip, Keith being a delegate representing Ontario County. Miss Sharon Baird has just returned home after spending two weeks at Ontario Athletic Leadership Camp at Longford Mills on Lake Couchiching. The Queen of the 1966 Caesarea Regatta is Sandra Herman of Caesarea. 10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, August 11, 1976 A Scugog Island girl was shot accidentally when her brother was attempting to clear a .22 calibre rifle. Six year-old Judy Chamberlain is reported in fair condition after surgery at Oshawa General Hospital. Muriel D. Morgan has advised the township she will be seeking a claim for injuries she received when she fell, because of the con- dition of the sidewalk, at the corner of Queen and Perry Streets. Mayor Lawrence Malcolm retained his "'Superstar™ title dur- ing Western Weekend festivities last weekend. Letters "Hospitality pays" program Dear Sir: Upon taking up my new respon- sibilities on June 30 as Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism), I was briefed on the status of the tourism industry at this mid-year point. I was delighted to learn of the many initiatives under way which will contribute towards a banner year in 1986. I am particularly pleased to know that Tourism Canada enjoys a close Want same Dear Sir: Co I have lived on Carnegie Beach Road, Conc. 13 East, Scugog Island since last July, 1985. Recently, I decided to go to Phantom franchise Here's to the festival phantom; who livened up our days; you made a score; with rocks galore; you had us in a haze. We hoped you'd show; for Win- tario; but it was not to be; your name is not Jack?!; alas, alack. You put us in a tizzy ; we pondered here & pondered there; you nearly drove us dizzy. T'was all in fun; when said & done; whoever you may be; good- bye for now, O Phantom; your pla- que awaits; for next year's fete, to solve the mystery. Yours truly, Bill Barr. (My wife is the poet) P.S. - I have franchised your idea. It starts in Motnahp, Ontario September 23, 1986. working relationship with the various sectors of the tourism in- dustry and the associations which represent its special interest. Therefore, it is my pleasure to join with the Tourism Industry Associa- tion of Canada (TIAC) in the laun- ching of the "Hospitality Pays" Pro- gram which focusses on an aspect of hospitality that is vital to our American visitors - fair exchange. In generally promoting the impor- tance of hospitality, this program privileges Fralick"s Beach, Conc. 13 West, to see what it was like. I was more than shocked to see that they have a paved road and also individual mail boxes, while we have a dirt road full of pot holes and a com- munity mail box. We pay taxes the same as Conc. 13 West, and the majority of the peo- ple live here all year including myself. Would somebody please téll me why we don't have the same privileges as Fralick"s Beach? Is there some discrimination between East and West? I say fair is fair. Mrs. Shirley E. Turnbull R.R. 3, Port Perry, Ontario complements the Tourism Am- bassador Program launched earlier by my predecessor, the Honourable Jack B. Murta. . Fair exchange is a matter that - reaches to the core of what tourists are looking for - value for their money. If visitors are treated fair- ly with regard to money, and hospitably with regard to goods and services, chances are they will return. All Canadians, not only those in the front line of the tourism in- dustry, must recognize their roles in contributing to a welcome vacation experience for our many visitors. Canada has much to offer the visitor from the U.S. and overseas. Our natural assets have been enhanced by the tremendous development of our tourism pro- ducts such as new hotels, restaurants, convention facilities and entertainment centres, and our latest special attraction, EXPO 86. I am pleased that Tourism Canada has joined with TIAC and all of the other participants who will contribute to the successful launch of the 'Hospitality Pays' program. We encourage all Canadians to be Tourism Ambassadors. Yours sincerely, Bernard Valcourt, Federal Minister, Small Businesses & Tourism. [Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- | points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter to the editor. While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must continue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. El -- isi Kn - . a . . a 1) it | & i 1 i