Page 18 - Cornwall Sports Energy News Issue No 96, Mike Piquette

18 Issue #96 January 2021 www.sportsenergynews.com

Continued from page 17 average, with a few seasons above 1916 Pitt Street N., Unit 1A (Heritage Business Centre)

Lawrence College where he was 400, Barry had several personal CORNWALL • 613-933-1200
studying Civil Engineering and playing achievements during his fastball
in goal for the SLC Road Runners. career, three of which were winning
the Sportsman League Playoff MVP
Barry’s hockey career came to an in 1974, Sportsman League Player of
end following junior, but he continued
the Year in 1981, and the Cornwall
playing broomball, a sport that he Registered Massage Therapist Sheryl Calvank-Rodriguez, RMT
Lions Club award for softball in
began playing when he was around 1982. The Sportsman League formed
twelve years old. “I played with many
an all-star team to play against the
different teams over the years and was travelling California Cuties team and
part of the Seaway Valley Regional
Barry got to catch that game. Barry “Livin’ The Dream”
Broomball League for more than
mentioned that he was able to have the
twenty years and also spent several opportunity catch for many Cornwall
years playing with another team in the Senior Tips...
and area pitchers over the years, either
Industrial League.” fellow fans, shouting encouragement to
during league play or in a tournament
Fastball was Barry’s favourite sport. with a few of those pitchers being Bill the players, unfettered by masks. Some
conventions may be gone for good. Like
He started out by playing baseball for Gosling, George Hillis, Bobby Shaver,
shaking hands. Will that quaint greeting,
a couple of years and then switched Neil Gallinger, Glen Grant, Doug
originally evidence that the sword hand
to softball, catching for a Cornwall Taillon, Mike Branchaud, Shawn
contained no weapon, ever return? The
team playing in a local league. He then O’Neil, Mike March, and Stan Woods.
air kiss, that odd touching-cheeks-with-
joined the Cornwall Cubs baseball Due to an injury that occurred in an
team, initially playing centerfield until early 90’s fender-bender, Barry had to pursed-lips gesture into the air behind the
the team’s catcher suffered a broken recipient - we could do without that one,
quit playing competitive sports. surely. The manly hug, a combination
arm and Barry took over catching
duties. He played with the Cubs for In 1978, Barry and Brenda of hug, shoulder pat, and playful punch.
another 3 seasons. In 1973, Barry’s Casselman married, and they had two Will that come back? We have learned to
old softball team joined the Sportsman daughters, Lindsay and Krista who are be cautious, aware of the invisible threat
League, rounding out their roster with both teachers. Brenda and Barry are of germs, the importance of distance.
a few players that they picked up from the proud grandparents of five. Barry By Janeen Wagemans Will that dissolve with the arrival of the
the North End Fastball league which coached Lindsay and Krista in both vaccine? Probably not. Certainly not
had recently folded. Barry remained in hockey and softball for about a five- Happy New Year! at once. They tell us to test it carefully
the Sportsman League until it folded in year period in each sport. “I was the s a rule, we bid farewell to the at first, this safety net, to be sure it will
the late 1980’s, and he then joined the head coach on one hockey team and Adeparting year with a hint of regret, hold. And we will. But at least we have
John Denneny League for several more the assistant on the other. The year an awareness of the passage of time, the something to hang our hopes on as this
seasons until fastball sort of faded out. when Lindsay was playing second- ephemeral nature of life. As a rule, we shiny new year rolls out before us.
year midget, we were allowed to have have at least a hint of that. This year, of Even if hand shaking and air kissing
The teams, along with their sponsors,
three bantam players on the team and course, we mostly shake our collective disappear forever, some treasured
changed many times over the years,
Krista was one of them. Coaching both heads as though trying to awake from aspects of our lives are sure to
some of which included The Anchor of my daughters on the same team was a particularly long and unpleasant
Motel, Parkway Dodge Chrysler, Coca- return. Soon. Bumping into a friend in
a real highlight for me.” nightmare, or scuffle and scrape as town and leaning side-by-side against
Cola, Fat Alberts, UAP, Mitchell’s, though trying to rid our collective shoe
and Kastners. The games were taken Barry began a 32-year career with of a nasty glob of gum upon which we a handy vehicle for a spontaneous chat
seriously with Barry stating, “We the City of Cornwall in 1978, joining have quite accidentally and regrettably about nothing in particular. Potluck
had some good rivalries with some the Engineering Department and later trodden. This year has been, as we so gatherings. Inside. Passing food and
of the teams. We won the league a moving to the Building Department. often say, one for the history books. serving one another. Surely that.
few times and were the runners-up a He retired in 2010 as Chief Building Certainly not one that we’ll look back Singing. Holding hands. Grandchildren
few times too. Our team won several Official and Supervisor of Bylaw upon with fond reminiscence. Oh, we’ll nestled in laps.
tournaments along the way. In 1977, Enforcement. Barry is an avid golfer, all have war stories to tell as time goes Oh, there will be troubles. Count on it.
I was playing for Coca Cola in the having a membership at Upper on, and maybe a few laughs once the Getting the economy back in order is
Sportsman League and we were down Canada Golf Club and spending time fear has dissipated, and the anger has still on the “To Do” list. Virus variations
2 to 0 in a best of five semi-final series (pre-COVID) each winter in Myrtle subsided. will pop up here and there, no doubt,
against the pennant-winning Shield Beach. He also took up playing the like spontaneous wildfires needing to be
Reality team. On the weekend, we drums when he was 46 years old and At this moment, however, we can say stomped out. All the regular suspects
played in the Newington Tournament, has played in four different bands. with confidence that the upcoming of war, crime, poverty, and pestilence
which was a 16-team straight knockout His current band, “Loose Leaf” had year can’t help but be an improvement. will still be with us in this new year.
tournament. We won four games been getting together to jam every few There is hope on the horizon in the form But it won’t seem quite so bad at least,
straight, riding the arm of Big George weeks before COVID struck and they of the imminent and eagerly anticipated if we can share our burdens together,
Hillis and winning the tournament. would usually play five or six events arrival of a vaccine that promises to shoulder-to-shoulder, in the same room.
We then beat out Shield Reality by each year. hoist our world, and all its scattered bits, The pandemic year has taught us the
winning three straight games and then Summing up his many years of out of the ditch and back on track! We value of that, at least. We know now that
have visions of celebrations a-plenty, togetherness is what makes a happy new
went on to beat McDonnell’s Inn in the playing various sports in the area,
and maybe even kissing in the street
finals with a four-game streak to finish Barry said, “I have met a lot of great year.
like that famed couple celebrating the
the season. We had won eleven straight people playing sports. Good times www.cookwithjaneen.com
end of WWII. Well, maybe not quite
games - it was an amazing finish to our and lots of stories to tell. It’s amazing www.womenwhocaresouthdundas.com
ball season.” how many people you meet over the that, but kissing anyway! And games www.theidesbookclub.com
in the arena, shoulder to shoulder with
Having a perennial 300+ batting years.”