The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-08-31, Page 35Ai
The Goderich Industrial Festival! Lengee presents the
10th annual
fast1)011
• Decade
of first
rate fastball
This year the Goderich Industrial Fastball
League Tournament celebrates its 10th an-
niversary. .
The tournament has grown in its brief 10 year
history and has established itself as a major
sporting event in the town of Goderich and
surrounding areas.
And the reason it has become a majof sporting
event for the town is through the diligent work of
the industrial league ball players. Through their
efforts the tournament has grown in -stature and
with the subsequent increase in the tournament
purse, enthusiastic softball fans have come to
expect a high calibre quality of play.
And they have never been disappointed in any
of the previous nine tournaments. The quality of -
play in the tournament is first rate.
Two years ago. the " first tournament in -
Goderich was organized by Gerry Pitre with
twelve local teams competing for the top prize.
In that first tournament, Holmesville won the
championship.
Since that time the tournament has taken on
several new looks as different and unique
inovations have been implemented to maintain
an attraction for area teams. •
Through the diligent efforts of Pitre, a former
player and now the umpire-in=chief of the
-,Goderich Umpires Association, 'he sustained the
tournament for the following three years with
the assistance of a few players and individuals.
Under the direction of Pitre, the second third
and fourth tournaments attracted such teams as
Petrolia, Toronto City -Wide Catering and a host
of local teams in a 24 team format.
In 1973, Doug 'Fisher took over the chair-
manship of the tournament committee and held
the post for the next four years. Under his
direction 32 teams entered the fifth annual,
consisting of 16 teams in an A division and 16 in B
division.
Teams drawing players from a population
over 10,000 are placed in the A division of the
Supplement to The Goderlch Signal -Star, August 31, 1978
tournament and the same rule applies today. The
calibre of ball increased during those years as
the prize money lured Such teams as Bodenoch,
London .Ted Diltz, Stratford Memorials. Kit-
chener Evergreens, Picton, Ingersoll and
Petrolia..
What is it that attracts thousands of fans to the
four-day tournament in Goderich? Aside from
exciting baseball, colorful and talented ball
players such as Brian Lightfoot, Lucan Irish
Nine; Larry Forbes, Petrolia; Dan Dobonavich,
Petrolia Squires; Ken L'Heureux, London Ted
Diltz; Ross Hislop, Stratford and others attract
ball fans.
The profits from the tournaments have been
used to pay for the new lighting system at
Agriculture Park and because of the success of
the tournament the league was able to pay off
their debt in 1976.
This year Jim Bell and Gerry Pitre are • co-
chairmen of the tournament and they have ac-
cepted 32 teams in two divisions to compete in a
double knockout format.
Top calibre umpiring is supplied by the
Ingersoll Umpires Association and they generate
added enthusiasm- throughout the tournament
with their precise and professional decisions.
This year's tournament promises to be another
success in the tradition of the Industrial League
annual event. Four Goderich teams, French Dry
Cleaners, McGee Pontiacs, Fisher Custom
Builders and Canada Company, will obvious
commend the support of the home town'crowd. '
Play begins Friday at 7:30 p.m. with a game
between Wingham and Bryanston in the B
division and will 'be followed by a contest bet-
ween Canada Company and Huron Park at 9
p.m .
The tournament committee Would -like to
extend a welcome to all players and fans and
hope that your visit to the tournament will be a
pleasant one.
. —
Tournament proceeds helped
pay for the lights at
Agriculture Park
.• •.insi
e• •
• complete
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. • team rosters
• pictures
• stories
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