Page 39 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 106

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #106 November 2021 39

Cornwall Hosts 2022 Little League
“Livin’ The Dream” Junior Provincial Championship

Senior Tips...

By Victoria Klassen
novel. But this novel is about ornwall District Minor Baseball
migrants starving and struggling C(CDMB) is excited to host the
to survive the long journey from
14U Little League Junior Provincial
Columbia. Hard to think of a tasty
Championship for the 2022 season.
connection. No treats required for
It will start on Tuesday, July 19 at
Zoom meetings. Dang!
Legion Park on the Lutt Bergeron
Office workers whose catch Memorial Field, and run for five to
phrase is, “This meeting could
seven days. Kyle Bergeron, grandson
have been an email,” have come to
of the Lutt Bergeron, is the CDMB
realize that it really could have been
president and chairman of the
an email. The annoying commute
By Janeen Wagemans really could be avoided. Virtual tournament.
meetings, though every bit as dull, Bergeron anticipates six or seven
or so long, we yearned to have
FNormal back! We assumed that don’t seem quite so bad when teams will compete in the tournament
to determine who will move on to the
one fine day we’d wake up and the everyone has not just arrived
world as we knew it would suddenly cranky and travel weary. No quick Junior Canadian Championships in
be as we left it. change from running shoes to high Lethbridge, Alberta. The teams that
heels. No need for Spanx. And will be competing in Provincials will
Glorious Normal! Won’t it be when the meeting is over, the be the winners of the various districts
grand?
colleagues magically disappear in Ontario. The CDMB district
But Normal kind of came back from the screen. Not bad. consists of Cornwall, Brockville, and
to us in fits and starts. In phases -
And it is kind of humanizing Kingston. The district playdowns
literally.
to see others in their natural will finish about a week before
Not that it’s here yet. Not that habitat. We peruse the books on Provincials. As the host, CDMB has L-R in photo: Kaleb Martin and
everything will ever be as it was in their shelves and the pictures on their a spot in the tournament. Aidan Loney Photo Submitted
the Before Times. walls. Meetings are interrupted by on to play in the World Series.”

And the reason for this is that adorable children, wandering cats or “This will be a very exciting
tournament for the residents of The Little League Junior
having had lots of time to give dogs spotting the Purolator delivery
Cornwall as we have assembled what Provincial Championship is also a
Normal some serious thought, we guy through the window. People
I believe is an all-star cast of coaches great opportunity for Cornwall to
aren’t so sure that we really want it seem more themselves somehow
back. Or at least, not all of it. without the protective carapace of and players. Our Cornwall River Rats showcase the beautiful waterfront
Oh, the family parties were their work persona. We come to are being led by Dan Loney, a very and Legion Park. The baseball
capable and experienced coach who
great. And the long car trips to do know, not only that they have pets, has numerous accolades from his park will be hosting many events
the obligatory visits to the elder but their names! Virtual is less playing days. Nathan Van Putten, who throughout the summer in addition to
relatives, the kids fighting with personal of course, because we’re is a starting pitcher on the Carleton Provincials.
each other in the back seat all the not all in the same room, and yet, “Our players will be training
way and Mom reincarnating all the somehow more personal. Ravens, is the pitching coach for the hard over the winter months in
Ottawa Knights and a very talented
family fusses and spats, giving them The only people who seem truly preparation for this tournament
individual,” said Bergeron.
new life the closer we get to the tickled pink about life “in real time” and they will be playing numerous
destination. Maybe, if we’re honest, as they say, are children. Virtual “We have an incredibly talented warm-up tournaments including in a
not as great as we remembered those school was, for most of them, a crop of young players who, in my massive tournament in Cooperstown,
trips when they were not allowed. bust. This pandemic has created a estimation, are our best team since NY,” said Bergeron. “This will help
As Normal looms closer, we begin generation of kids around the world the 2009 team that won the Senior prepare us to win the Provincial
to look back on those family visits on who are excited because they “get Canadian Championships and went Championships.”
Zoom with nostalgic affection. By to go to school”. That’s a first! The
the time the elder relatives managed little kids like to romp and play Thom’s Trivia
to click the link and find the video like puppies and the big kids like
camera and unmute themselves, to fantasize and flirt. The teachers Answers
the visit was nearly over! The kids and parents are focusing on skills
impressed their elders by popping in and content, which were possible Questions on page 32
to offer advice, seeming clever and virtually, but the kids just want to do
charming rather than recalcitrant. what kids do. Question 1 Answer:
Great chatting! During the darkest days of the During the War of 1812, The Battle of Chrysler Farm took place November
And Book club. There are twelve pandemic, we dreamed of Normal, 11, 1813.
of us now. Such good fun to meet and kids got an endless stream of
in person. Those designated to snow days. Ironically, most of us Question 2 Answer:
bring the refreshments stress to discovered that Normal wasn’t all it Teammate Bert Olmstead with a slap shot during the pre-game warm up.
ensure that they outdo the previous was cracked up to be, and the kids
members who cleverly incorporated discovered that school is in fact Question 3 Answer:
treats that were referenced in the glorious. Go figure! Although the snap was misplayed - sorry Dad!