Expanded Senior Slo-Pitch Association 2024 Memorial Tournament

A bit of history about the origin of the Memorial Tournament, courtesy Barb Wade: her husband, Art Wade, was a founding member of the League. He played for years, served as a Captain and also as Commissioner.

In May 2006, he was diagnosed with cancer and died three weeks later. He had been assigned to a team that year, and even had his shirt. His favourite charity was the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. They were starting a baseball camp for children for a week in the summer. Art wanted donations, so that children who could not afford to go, could go.

The League decided in August 2006 to have an Art Wade Memorial Tournament just for our League, to raise some money for the camp. It poured rain that day, but everyone turned out to play and have lunch after.

During the winter, the League decided to start an annual Memorial Tournament to honour all people who played or helped in the League. The plaques were set up and the first tournament as we know it was held in June 2007.

It has been held annually ever since, except for the COVID years (2020, 2021), and 2023 when it was cancelled due to very poor air quality.

The annual Memorial Tournament was held Friday, June 7, 2024, at Centennial Park Diamond #3 (SE).

The weather was started a bit somber - we had about 20 family, friends, and alumni players, 25 current players (thanks for participating) and a handful of fans!

Donuts and coffee were available before the ceremony and games.

These former players, umpires and scorekeepers were remembered:

Bob Nixon (1995-1999),
Clare Jones (1994-2019),
Doug Snow (1994-2002),
Herm Dyke (2000-2019),
James Luscombe (1997-2017),
Larry Adler (1999-2019),
Mike Forestell (1994-2013).

Their names were added to the memorial plaque; family members are invited to attend.

The games used the Incrediball (spongy softball) for safety. Current and former Etobicoke 55+ Slo-Pitch League players / Etobicoke Senior Slo-Pitch Association players / Expanded Senior Slo-Pitch Association players / umpires were welcome to play, as were their guests, and family members / guests of the players remembered at the ceremony.

Everyone was invited for lunch at The Bull Pub and Grill (Eglinton Ave / Skymark Ave, Mississauga) afterwards (along with a few beverages).

Schedule

Guests and Players arrive at Centennial Park - 9:00 AM.
Teams line up along the baselines - 9:30 AM - Diane.
Honourees and Speakers take to the centre of the field - 9:30 AM - Diane.
Teams identified and begin games - 10:00 AM - Eric.
Lunch at The Bull for those who would like to attend - 12:00 Noon - All.

Team Rosters (Word DOC format)
Team Rosters (HTML DOC format)

Special thanks to the following for helping make this event happen:
Eric Burton, for flexibly managing all aspects of play - equipment, field setup, and organization of the teams;
Darryl Yaworski, my committee member for stepping in to help wherever he saw the need;
Bill Law, for being the official tournament photographer and for helping set up the field;
Barb Wade, for speaking, hosting the families of the honourees, and helping with details;
Anne Calhoun, for hosting the alumni and helping with details;
Mike Peterson, for speaking, captaining a team and helping with details;
Nick Hnatiuk, for providing stats and making a collage of the honourees;
Lonnie Bewick, for organizing a group of alum and captaining a team;
Paul Roth, for speaking;
Paul Booth, for taking on the role of Master of Ceremonies;
Diane DeSouza, for leadership as our ESSA League Commissioner.