Page 27 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 10

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Presents... The Games Are Over,

The Memories Live On

NEW YORK CAFE SERVES UP

CHAMPIONSHIP ACES

trip to the championship was courtesy
By Gisele Grignon
of the players’ parent’s cars…and
efore going on to a much lauded rides by supportive fans. Not that any
Bcareer as a Toronto Star Sports of that seemed to matter to the team or
writer, Frank Orr covered sports for organizers.
the Standard Freeholder, traveling
“We were a family. Still feel that way
with Cornwall’s New York Café Aces
about those guys,” admits McDonald.
softball team up to New Liskeard for
the 1958 Ontario Juvenile Softball He got a chance to catch up with
Championship. He didn’t hold back most of those “family” members,
on his assessment of the hometown in 2011, for the Aces 25th reunion.
team: Among those attending the event were
McDonald, Larry Keen, Jack Murphy,

“The classy, cocky, confident New
Wayne McGlynn, Verne Montgomery,
York Café Aces have invaded the
Gilles Leger, Bob Jamieson, Marcel
northern Ontario team on Friday.”
Leduc, Doug Carpenter, Johnny
Jim McDonald paints the softball Heward, Yvon Cyr and Pat Rowe.
team’s attitude with much the same
The team again paid tribute to their
stroke: “We were confident, very

shortstop and pitcher, Jacques Richard,

confident.” Even with the pressure of
who at just 18, tragically drowned
living up to that kind of lofty reputation?
near Sudbury. Just a year after their
McDonald, doesn’t hesitate a moment.
teammate’s death, the players each
“We knew we were the best.
pitched in $5.00 for a trophy to honour
We really played some really good Cornwall’s top junior athletes.
teams from the south, like Toronto for
Today, McDonald, who passed on
instance.”
softball following a bout with mono
And as Orr put it, “invade” they did: when he was in his 50’s, has taken

“We beat Haileybury 21-1 that Friday We got three runs the first inning and were just glad to get out of the cold,” up another of the sports he excelled
night,” recalls McDonald. By the then four and then six. The Haileybury says McDonald. at: hockey. “It’s great to be back in
fourth inning, they faced a challenge team was not as good as what we had Not bad for a team made up of the dressing room again,” laughs
that even a dugout-full confidence faced down here.” small town, mostly 17 year-olds who McDonald, who also stays fi t by

couldn’t have prepped them for: a freak One of the highlights of that game doubled as the grounds crew back working out fi ve days a week. “But
Thanksgiving weekend snowstorm recalls McDonald, was the show put home, divvying up their field time these guys I’m playing hockey with

and 27 degrees F. between practicing and raking the are in their 20s and 30s so I’ve learned
on by team founder, coach and pitcher,

“It was so cold we had to wear Larry Keen. “He threw a no-hitter that infield. Financial backing back then the trick to it: I stay out of their way.”
gloves under our gloves, and long fi rst game and we just whipped them,” was skimpy at best: New York Café Which isn’t to say his confi dence
underwear,” says McDonald. recalls McDonald, who was also owner Jack Lee provided uniforms levels from his New York Café Aces
and equipment but the team’s traveling days have dipped much: “I really
Even plummeting temperatures the New York Ace’s baseball team’s and miscellaneous expenses-from miss hitting that ball. I go back to the
couldn’t freeze them out of the batting champ with a .486 average.
meals to motel rooms-were covered games they have today and I feel like I
championships. “The Saturday afternoon game we by the teenaged players themselves, or could be out there. I just turned 72 but
“We showed them right off the bat. beat them 12 -9. A little closer, but we through fundraising efforts. Even the I certainly don’t feel it.”

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