Written By John Caverhill
Through the mid-1950s many local softball/fastball diamonds were constructed. Being much smaller than hardball diamonds made them much more affordable, especially in rural communities, and graded finished fields with lights are now common in both rural and urban areas. Ailsa Craig and Arva were among the first to have lights and this was especially advantageous for rural teams, male and female, because games could start after sundown when the daily farm work was finished.
Ilderton was part of a league with Arva, Ballymote, and Thorndale, if I remember correctly. All but one of the Ilderton team members played the same position as before and the one exception still puzzles me today. Ilderton didn’t have a pitcher. I had always played first base but somehow, I ended up as pitcher and I have absolutely no idea how this came about. Looking back at what took place I have reluctantly concluded that of all the players on our team I was the only one too dumb to know I wasn’t a pitcher, so I became a pitcher. Fortunately, Ilderton had two good catchers, Keith Scarborough and Frank Clarke, who were good at ‘reading’ opposing batters and as long as I hit the catcher’s mitt where they were holding it there were no line drives returned at my head.
The Ilderton team folded after a few years with college and jobs away from home taking priority over fastball. The year following Ilderton’s closure, Colin Bailey and I played for Lieury, which was in a league that included Brinsley, Crediton, Corbett, and Sylvan. All games were played at the lighted Lieury diamond. Colin played right field and I was back at first base where I really belonged. Sports purists would probably claim that we four fitted our amateur status because we were each paid two dollars per game (gas money).
It was during one of these games I saw Colin make a catch that compared with any I have seen anywhere. I don’t recall the team he played for but I remember the batter because not only was he a consistent header, he drove the ball for unbelievable distances. The Lieury diamond had no fence along the outfield so when this batter was at the plate the outfielders played deep, along where a fence would have been. On this night the batter connected with a low fastball and literally golfed it far into right field. Colin started to back up, then half turned and ran, and made the catch over his shoulder on the other side of the light standard! The whole play—the height and distance the ball travelled, followed by the amazing catch—remains as clear in my memory as if it happened yesterday.
Dad and I followed both local and professional sports. The London Majors at that time were always top contenders in the Intercounty Baseball League and we used to watch some of their games at Labatt Park. Tommy White and Jack Fairs made one of the best pitcher/catcher combos in the league. Other players I remember were Bobby Deacon, shortstop, and Gord McMacken, second base. Another London player I and many other people knew personally was Bob Bloxam, science teacher at Medway High School. I first became acquainted with Mr. Bloxam in grade 9 because he was coach of the junior and senior hockey teams. Fresh out of university, young and athletic, he played defense for London Almatex hockey team of the notoriously rough Senior B Hockey League. He also played first base for the London Majors and was an exceptional fielder but an average batter. One game especially still stands out in my memory, not because of a great play on the field but because of a fan’s reaction to a less-than-great play on the field. The opposing pitcher was hot that evening and Bobby, as he was called by sports fans, having just gone down swinging on three straight pitches, was heading back to the dugout. Suddenly, from the quiet London grandstand one of those foghorn voices that is heard in every crowd boomed, “Why dontcha try usin’ a hockey stick??”
I have always enjoyed both playing and watching local sports teams for the special excitement and humour that are present when people you know personally are playing.
