UNVEILED THIS FRIDAY
‘Angels in the Outfield’ will watch over Peter Hallman Ball Yard
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by Helen Hall
Kitchener Citizen
August 7, 2014​​

Kitchener is known as a fastball city, and local enthusiasts don’t want us to forget those who helped make it that way.
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Organizers of the 2014 International Softball Congress (ISC) Championships are unveiling a tribute at the Peter Hallman Ball Yard to their “starting nine” - nine longtime volunteers who have passed away since 1999.
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Bernie Daley, Doug Davies, Peter Hallman, Paul Hutcheson, John MacTavish, Donald (Pete) McIlwraith, Laverne Reichert, Sue Sherry and Donna Weber spent countless hours helping with local, national and international fastball (also known as softball) tournaments in Kitchener, and helped the Peter Hallman Ball Yard off Hayward Avenue become a top-rate facility.
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A five foot high by five foot wide carved granite stone is a project of Kitchener Fastball Promotions, and will be unveiled on August 8 at 8pm, prior to the start of the ISC tournament. The engraved stone is located just past the outfield of the first diamond, by the walkway into the park. It has benches on either side.
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Organizer Tom Clancy said that one of the family members of the recognized group told him “To have this tribute in the park where they spent so many hours is so appropriate.”
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“It’s a very unique project,” said Clancy, another fastball fanatic, who is in the Waterloo Region Hall of Fame for his volunteer efforts, and was the previous chair of the ISC tournaments in Kitchener in 2002 and 2006.
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Clancy said he, current ISC chair Duncan Matheson, Kitchener Fastball Promotions President Ray Alviano, Larry Lynch and John Thompson started working on the project a few years ago. Some dedications had already been done in the park, including naming the food building ‘Donna’s Diner’ after Donna Weber, and the bridge after Pete McIlwraith, but they wanted to recognize others who had contributed to their sport.
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“Larry said he knew a guy in Moorefield who engraved rock,” Clancy said. After inviting the artist Robert Robinson to Kitchener, their Angels in the Outfield project was born.
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The group raised about $25,000 for the stone, carving, transportation and set-up, as well as landscaping and site preparation. It is possible that more names will be added to the monument in the future.
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Angels in the Outfield Honourees include:
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Bernie Daly
Minor softball coach, management committee member and tireless volunteer; treasurer of Waterloo Ontario Fastball Association; valued member and key contributor for the ISC 2002 Host Committee
Doug Davies
Long-time coach of Tien Hoa Inn in KFL; Twins coach and venerable umpire; member of Waterloo Ontario Fastball Association, assisting in coordinating announcers, scorers and statisticians for national tournaments at Hillside Park and the 2002 ISC Tournament, designing a model for volunteer management that’s been emulated ever since
Peter Hallman
A key supporter of minor softball in Kitchener-Waterloo and area for leagues and tournaments spanning many years; dedicated supporter of Kitchener’s entry in the Ontario Fastball League; the original “Hallman” sponsor of the Twins, without whom local senior men’s fastball may not have flourished through the ’80s and ‘90s
Paul Hutcheson
Former manager of the Kitchener Evergreens in the Kitchener Fastball League; a personable, pleasant and always smiling volunteer scorekeeper for a multitude of tournaments; game announcer and scorer for the Twins and scoring coordinator for the 2006 & 2007 ISC Tournaments
John MacTavish
A long-time player with Big Bill’s in the Kitchener Fastball League; former coach with the Waterloo CHYM’rs; volunteer for several major tournaments and a huge fastball fan at a multitude of venues worldwide for Canadian, ISC and ISF championships
Pete McIlwraith
A good ball player who assisted many organizations over many years. He was the driving force behind the KW Civitan’s diverse community efforts. His many accolades include: Softball Canada Hall of Fame and PWSA’s Outstanding Service Award as well as being installed into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame.
Laverne Reichert
Executive member of Waterloo Ontario Fastball Association, as well as Kitchener Fastball Promotions; lead volunteer of bid committees to bring several Softball Canada national championships to the community; member of the original bid group to initiate the prestigious ISC Tournament coming to Kitchener
Sue Sherry
Member of Waterloo Ontario Fastball Association and Kitchener Fastball Promotions; key volunteer for administrative/financial responsibilities at local tourneys, national tourneys and ISC Tournaments; assisted in ISC Hall of Fame inductions in Midland, MI, and Quad Cities, IA/IL
Donna Weber
Lead catalyst at Donna’s Diner during Kitchener-hosted ISC and other major tournaments, taking ball park food service and menu to a new level, coordinating her huge band of volunteers, and initiating the popular “Anna Mae’s pie & ice cream” feature
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Your Neighbourhood Credit Union is the title sponsor of the 2014 ISC tournament.
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Just over 60 teams will participate between August 9 and 16 in three divisions - Junior, Legends, and the World Tournament Open. A new format means that each team will play a minimum of four games. Teams will move down to the losing bracket on their first loss. Their second loss moves them to the ISC II division, which will also have a champion.
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The tournament is expected to bring about $5-million into the local economy. Previous ISC tournaments in 2002, 2006 and 2007 each drew about 50,000 spectators and raised about $100,000 each time for local charities. Proceeds from this year’s event will go to K-W Minor Boys Softball, Kitchener Minor Girls Softball, Children’s Wish and KW Habilitation Services.
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Chair Duncan Matheson said they are still looking for volunteers. For more info visit www.isc2014.ca and email robway@rogers.com.
Family members unveiling the memorial.