Mount Pearl Men's Slo-Pitch Softball League

Upcoming Dates

Things are getting closer and closer to the start of another year.  Anything to take our minds off the snow and ice.  Here are some dates to put in your calendars.

Opening Day:  May 14th

Appreciation Night:  August 18th Clubhouse

Past President - Roy Crocker

Jan 10, 1956 - Mar 30, 2018

It is with great sadness that we must once again say goodbye to a great member of our softball family.  Roy Crocker, a past President of our league passed away on March 30th following a courageous battle with cancer.

Roy, aside from being a great guy, was the league President from 2001 - 2005.  He also served on many committees during his time in the league.  Roy loved his game of ball and a game of darts.  Sadly though he was a Maple Leaf fan, but I guess we can forgive him for that.  In 2014 Roy was awarded the leagues “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his dedication to the Mount Pearl Men’s Softball League.

Roy will be greatly missed by the many guys that played with him and against him.  Prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to the Crocker and Legge family. 

Dart League Makes Donation

Thursday night Dart league raised $1500 and this past week presented the cheque to former ballplayer Jim Bishop, to help out with his wifes trip to Toronto for surgery on her cancer. We wish them a safe and successful trip. 

League Champions

Congratulations to City Tire and Auto for winning the 2017 Mount Pearl men's Slo-Pitch crown!  The boys had a great play-off, first knocking off the regular season champions, Larry's Tax Services, and then beating a very strong Pepsi team to take the title.  Going into the semi finals and finals, Las Vegas had City Tire the huge underdogs, but they played the role perfectly.  By playing solid defence and using timely hitting they were able to cap off a great play-off run.  Congrats guys.

Accepting the K&D Cup from league vice president Ford Pollard are captains Gary Beresford and Dave Cooney, along with team manager Bill Vincent

Members of the Championship team are:

Back row left to right:  Dave Conney, Mike "Hags" Hagerty, Morris Earle, Wayne Mercer, Nick Morrissey, Robert Vey, Jack Constantine, Jacques Lapierre, Gary Beresford

Front row left to right: Bob Bugden, Ray Decker, Dave Murphy, Ed Snow, Jim Mallard, Bill Vincent

Missing:  Dion Carew

B Champions

Congratulation also to the Champions of the "B" division play-offs, The Bigs.  The Bigs and their high powered offence were to much for a game Collision Clinic team, and that offence saw them take the final series 3 games to 1.  Congrats guys.

Accepting the trophy from league President Stan Linstead and new Mount Pearl Mayor, Dave Aker, are captains Jamie Neville and Karl Baker .

Members of the B championship winning team are:

Back row left to right: Norm Somerton, Bob Snow, Paul Joy, Steve Luff, Charles Chatman, Cory Truscott

Front row left to right: Karl Baker, Toby Crawley, Jason Pope, Jamie Neville, Peter Constantine, Wayne Peddle

Missing: Paul Blackwood, Roger Hounsel, Dave Squires

Larry's Tax Services take top spot

Congratulations to Larry's Tax Services for finishing in 1st place during the regular season.  The boys had a phenomenal year finishing with a 26 and 4 record and are heavy favorites heading into the "silly season".

Captains Steve Beer and Jamie Alyward along with coach Steling Hillier accept the 1st place trophy from league president Stan Linstead.

Members of the 1st place team are:

back row left to right: Colin Pennell, Rick Gibbons, Shane Chafe, Leroy Barnes

middle row left to right: Steve Beer, Ed Harris, Howie Walsh, Dave Broomfield, Rollie Furlong, Jim Walsh, Billy Quinlan, Sterling Hillier, Darrell Durdle

front row left to right: Brian Lake, Randy Purcell, Jamie Alyward, Ted Smith

The history of the Mount Pearl Men's Slo-Pitch Softball League, as posted in the "The Pearl" newspaper.

The Mount Pearl Men's Slo-Pitch Softball League originated in 1978 when six (6) teams from the community of Mt. Pearl began playing softball on the  St. David’s Field..

These teams were comprised from players in Mt. Pearl and each team, for the most part, represented the streets they lived on. Players would prepare the field i.e. remove rocks from the field , mow the grass etc. to play ball.

The first president of the league was Robert Lopez. The league currently has an executive  of ten (10) members. The leagues became incorporated  in 1993.  As of this year a total

 of eleven (11) presidents have served the league including the current  president Stan Linstead.

The league grew in stages going from 6 to 8 to 14 and then to 16 teams as it is today. As a result of this growth the league sought out various sponsors for the teams. Over the  past 35 years (circa) there  have  been well over 50 different sponsors  lending  their assistance  to the  league.

Much of the success of this league can be contributed to all the  players , past and  present, who understood and accepted  the spirit of the  league which was to play ball, have  fun and  meet new  friends.

To ensure league parity a process of selecting players ,who are rated according to skill level, and a draft  is held every year to fill 16 rosters with each team having a total of 15 players each. Each team can also select a former player from the ex-players who still want to be a part of the game but can no longer play. This person assists the team captain and co-captain in managing the team.

The season schedule consists of 15 games a round with 2 rounds. The top 8 teams  continue to play in a playoff format for the Clayton Jacobs Memorial Trophy and  the  league  championship , and  the  bottom 8 teams  play a playoff  format  for the  Charlie  Sing Memorial Trophy.

The first Dinner and Dance for the league was held in 1978 at the Lions Club in Mt. Pearl. The cost was $ 5.00 per person and chicken was served.

The league had its first mortgage burning ceremony in 2004 at St. David’s Field. In 2013 the league moved from St. David’s Field to its present venue , Richard Levandier Sports Complex .

Besides playing ball the league is very active in the community in making financial contributions and participating  in various events. The league offers four (4)

$ 500.00 scholarships to children/grandchildren of members each year. We visit the Janeway Hostel on Mother’s Day and  prepare  breakfast for the parents  that are staying  there with of  course  particular attention to the  moms that day.  We have provided financial contributions to various organizations i.e. Canadian Cancer Society , Mt. Pearl Special Olympics, Food Bank , Royal Canadian Legion, et al.

We have two active playing members in our league  who were part of the  original league 40 years ago and who have not missed a season , Steve Bugden and Wally Westcott.  Congratulations  !!!

View From Above

(Thanks Ed Harris)

Here is a couple of pictures of our beautiful venue showing Richard Levandier Softball field and the surrounding Team Gushue Complex...... Enjoy

More have been posted under "Aerial photos" in the Photo Albums page.