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Ballard Lumber team members enjoy reunion It's been 26 years since a softball team from Port Perry, sponsored by Ballard Lumber, the 1968 Ch ions of Restaurant, he thought the atmosphere would be perfect to talk over old times, and renew old friendshi the Juvenile 'C' 0.A.8.A. (Ontario: Amateur Softball Association). Ballard Lumber was the type of sponsor every team would like to have. Rarely missing a game, the Ballard family - John, Joy, Ralph and Gale - took an active interest in the game. With Wayne Venning coaching and Mac McMillan acting as manager, these two men were a great influence for the team, Mr. Ballard told the Citizen. "I'hey were a good bu~zi of guys" he said recently. "We did a lot for them but they did a lot for us (Ballard Lumber) too." It's always been a desire of John Ballard to have a 25-year team reunion. By taking the team and their wives to a Jays game at the Sky Dome and enjoying dinner at Windows For various reasons the reunion wasn't feasible last year. But last Friday evening the players and their wives enjoyed a night out with the Ballard family at the Windows Restaurant. "Skydome officials have been more than fantastic" Mr. Ballard told the Citizen, in helping to plan the reunion. While most of the team players still live in the area, some came as far away as Dundas and Downsview. The final game that clinched the championship a quarter of a century ago was held in Port Perry against Tavistock. The score was 4-3 for Port at the top of the ninth, the bases loaded. With Rick Beare pitching, it was an elated team and fans who celebrated when that last batter struck out. Gamblers at home for season opener The Greenbank Gamblers Fastball Club will kick/off the 1994 local fstball segson this Thursday fight at 8:00 p.m. in Greenbank Park. Defending their 1993 Oshawa City and District Championship title will be no easy task for the Gamblers as the Oshawa City League appears to be much improved for the 1994 season. The Oshawa Juniors (who battled Greenbank right down to the wire in last year's finals) are back intact, with their 1993 OASA Junior "A" Team and look to be a powerhouse. This is the final year for junior teams to bring the junior age limit to 23 and Oshawa are looking to repeat as the 1994 OASA Jr. "A" Champions. Oshawa Flying Squirrels who finished second in league play to the Gamblers in 1983 look to be a strong contender with solid pitching and an excellent offense The unknown team X in the league this year is the Oshawa "Mickey Finns" who are built around last year's Oshawa Hornets who played last year at the International I8C tournament and can't help but be a powerful ball club under playing coach Frank Schram A major addition to the league this year will be the Scarborough Royals who are looking for new fields to conquer and will play out of Thomson Park in Then the old rivalries of Greenbank and the Port Perry Antrims will be renewed for the 8cugog Township bragging rights and both the Gamblers 8nd Antrims should be looking over their shoulders as Wayne Venning's Port Perry Juveniles. J are all a year older and more experienced and with back to back Ontario Midget titles. Rounding out the nine team league will be the strengthened owmanville club and a new entry in the Oshawa Juvenil Greenbank will feature an experienced pitching staff this year with Mark Goreski and Jim Chilvers both returning and they will also get some pitching "assistance from newcomer Tim Evans. Paul Goreski will be handling the catching duties with occasional relief from Coach Don Phinney. Field Manager Ken Goreski is expecting timely run production from the Gambler batting lineup with Don Beaton, Greg Newell, Steve Durham, Mike Giroux, Trevor and Brian Till and last year's batting champion Jim Chilvers. Work commitments are a potential problem this year - with Peter Oosterholt, Brian Till, Rod Real and Bill Buys still not available for all the games. At any rate the Gamblers will soon see how the new season will shape up as the "play ball" call will be heard this Thursday night in-Greénbank Park when Oshawa "Mickey Finns" will tackle the defending champs at 8:00 p.m Next week sees Greenbank in Port Perry for an 8:30 game on Tuesday night (May 17) and then in Scarborough on Thursday night for a double header with the Scarborough Royals. Note: the double header in Scarborough on May 19 is the oply Thursday night the Gamblers will not play at home until the end of the regular schedule on August 11. Celebrations continued back at the arena, which was then situated behind where the CIBC is today, where the players and fans of both teams enjoyed a sandwich lunch and Ken Jackson provided his famous butter tarts. That same year the Port Perry Chamber of Commerce hosted a banquet at the United Church where Reeve J.J. Gibson p d individual trophies to the players on behalf of council and the citizens of Port Perry. Ballard Lumber bought the team orange leather jackets and some of these are still seen today, but dn the backs of the players' family. It took Wayne Venning 25 years to win another championship game, as he coached the Merchant Midget to victory last year and the year before. Last Friday night, to show their appreciation, the team presented to John and Joy Ballard jackets that read "Ontario Champions 1968 - Ballard Lumber Reunion 1994". Members of the 1968 Ballard Lumber Juvenile Fastball team which won the All-Ontario titie that year got together last Friday night for a team reunion. The and wives took In a Blue Jay game at the Dome, and enjoyed dinner at Windows Restaurant. in top photo is how they look today. Back row Wayne Venning, sponsor John Ballard, Mac McMillan and Ralph Ballard. Second row, John Garry Hunter, John MacMaster, Bob Nagle, Bob Smith, Tom Lawrence and Bob Baxter. Front row Bill Wanamaker, Rick Beare, Dale Beare and Gene Hurst. Not present In this photo are Reg Manns, Joe Hircock,Paul Raines, and Ken Clark (deceased). In bottom photo Is how they looked as a winning team 25 years ago. Back from left coach Wayne Venning, sponsor John Ballard, manager Mac McMillan. Middle Bob Nagle, Bob Smith, Reg Manns, Bob Baxter, John Lucyk, Garry Hunter and John MacMaster. Front row, Bill Wanamaker, Rick Beare, Ken Clarke, Dale Beare, Gene Hurst and Paul Raines. Absent In this photo, Tom Lawrence and Joe Hircock. Both Angels ready to soar The new and the old "Angels" are ready Yo go for the 1994 ladies fastball season. The new Port Perry "Scugog Angels" Midget girls team is ready with Rick Finlay as head coach, along with Danny Mitchell and Steve Conway. Some of the Midgets to watch who can really handle the bat are Michelle Scott, Amber Wood of last year's Eastern Canadian champs, along with Laurie the team's catcher. Michelle Durkin in centre field has speed to burn, Bara Cain, first base and along side her at second sacker Nikki Christie, a very sharp in-fielder. Tracy Weightman is at short- stop with Amber Wood at third et bing cores will be handied by Jennifer Eayman and Robin Adcock, and the tgam is still The other Scugog Angels are also ready to go with seven coming back from last / Eastern Canada ip team. They'are Nancy McConnell, Joyc# Parkingon, Kim Stewart, Jogine (Graham) McDuff, Gena nn Mandee Porter and Bmith who says this team will be "just awesome." Cathy Davis joins Nancy behind the plate to give the club 8 solid duo.at this spot. With Joanne (Graham) McDuff will be Angela Davis of Uxbridge, a right hander with good movement on the ball. Along with Cheryl Vaughan, a hard- throwing right-hander, the Angels have three strong arms on the mound this year. "Joyce Parkinson will play first, Kim Stewart and Angela Beswick are slated for second, Gena Spence at short, with Tara Howden and Lisa Crocker who can play anywhere in the infield. In the outfield, the Angelg have radar in Tracy Smith along with Kelly Caldwell, Mandee Porter and Sherry Brown. These girls can really motor to track down those long hits to the gaps and power alleys. The team's season gets underway with a game against the Oshawa Double BB at 9:00 'The Whitby Hawks will provide the opposition for the Midget Angels, starting at 7:00 PM.