One of the true delights of grassroots or local sports is seeing a performer first.
It’s an age old process in the city and region.
Do you remember the first time you saw Harry Lumley, Les Binkley or Curtis Sanford play goal in the city ?
Over decades, there’s been a host of homegrown lacrosse players who shone in Owen Sound before moving onwards and upwards.
In fastball, do you remember seeing Brad Underwood pitch as a youngster ?
The cycle of sports progression continues and hopefully will always continue in Owen Sound.
Most recently, I was pleased for Adam Stuck of the Brick Brothers Volkswagen Selects who was chosen this week to play for Canada at the ISF Under 19 Championship.
Interestingly, the first time I saw Stuck perform, it was in track & field were he won a Bluewater Championship in one of the jumping events for West Hill.
The following night, he was patrolling centrefield for the Midget Selects and watching his speed that night, it was apparent that if he couldn’t get to a ball, no one could.
In equally rapid fashion, Stuck has gone from raw to polished product and will represent the country in November at the ISF tournament in Argentina.
From there, who knows where Adam Stuck will go on to play ball. But like other great performers in other sports, he got his start right here.
I’m Fred Wallace