Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “, brought to you by Hal Wright Chevrolet-Cadillac-GMC-Buick on the Sunset Strip in Owen Sound.
The existence of two competitive men’s soccer teams in Owen Sound, playing out of the York Region Soccer League this Spring & Summer, reminds me of a similar scenario a decade ago.
In the Spring and Summer of 2003, the fastball universe included both the established Owen Sound Selects and the upstart Owen Sound Crunch, who were the hosts of the Canadian Men’s Fastball Championship Tournament.
It became evident very early that there was very little to choose between the two Owen Sound teams and also very apparent that the rivalry was intense.
On Canada Day, 2003, with a full house at Duncan McLellan Park, the Selects paraded onto the diamond, riding in convertibles as part of a nice pre-game ceremony to present championship rings to the Selects for winning the Canadian Championship in 2002.
Nice for the Selects, but the Crunch unimpressed sat waiting and waiting.
Finally the umpire called, ” Play Ball “, and with his first pitch of the day, Andrew Kirkpatrick of the Crunch beaned Selects leadoff hitter Bill Simmonds and all hell threatened to break out.
I’m not sure the Owen Sound soccer rivalry will be as intense. Or maybe it will be-we’ll see.
But ten years ago, the image of a glorious Canada Day afternoon doubleheader at Duncan McLellan Park remains as a reminder of what can happen when Owen Sound plays Owen Sound.
I’m Fred Wallace