Get ready to root, root, root for the home teams

St. James-Assiniboia

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This article was published 21/08/2024 (381 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The sound of bats cracking will be ringing through Crestview this Labour Day long weekend.

That’s when the Crestview Men’s Fastball League will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a weekend-long tournament and much more at Assiniboia West Community Club (305 Morgan Cres.).

“We have lots of fun stuff planned,” said Corina Sellner, who has been helping run the league and organize the festivities. “We’ll have food carts (and a) beer garden Friday right through Monday. Live music. We have commemorative T-shirts, with all the names of all the teams that ever played. I’ve got about 36 names so far, with a cool 60th logo on the front.”

The Crestview Men’s Fastball League got its start back in 1964 as part of Crestview Fun Days, organized by the local community centre. Originally, teams were made up of players from specific streets or bays, but as time went on, players from the immediate community area and beyond were included.

“A few houses on the local streets just played some fun ball, which snowballed into something bigger,” Sellner said. “They only had a few teams, anyone could play back then.”

A few years later, the league got more organized, eventually extending its boundaries to include teams from the Charleswood area, as well. Over the years, players and teams have come and gone, as have fastball leagues in general in Manitoba.

“I’ve been told it’s the longest running league in Manitoba, and the only remaining fastball league in Manitoba,” noted Sellner, who got involved 20 years ago when her husband was an active player. Now, he coaches her son’s team. “We’re trying to keep this one alive.”

While the 1980s are heralded as the heyday of the league, as recently as 2019 the league still had 10 competitive teams, it has been down to five since COVID-related restrictions eased: The Old Sox, Westwood Royals, Hillary Blues, the Mudcats, and the Saints.

“Since COVID we’ve been struggling, but we’ve persevered,” Sellner said. “That’s why we want to celebrate this milestone.”

Now, to keep the league alive, some teams include players who travel over two hours to play competitive fastball.

“To drive that far is pretty dedicated,” Sellner said. “Without these fellas, I don’t know if we could make this happen.”

Sellner noted that head umpire Ron Westcott has been instrumental in helping the league run as long as it has.

“He’ll be 80 this year, and he’s been in the league way longer than I have,” she said. “It’s nice to have his wealth of information. He still comes out and umpires. People like him, that’s why I want to do this. So they can share memories and stories.”

The CMFL 60th anniversary celebrations kick off on Friday, Aug. 30 with the regular tournament action, as well as live music from Whoopsie Dacey. Game-play continues Saturday, with a home-run derby planned for 6:30 p.m.

“Sunday, Sept. 1, will be our big day,” Sellner said. Games continue all day, with an alumni game planned for 6:30 p.m. “I’ve been trying to contact anyone who has been involved with the game to come join us in some capacity. We’ll just try doing something fun, just to get these guys together.”

That evening, local band the Biivers will also perform, starting at 8:30 p.m. On Monday, the tournament wraps up, with A- and B-side champions crowned.

“One team, Hillary Blues, has won the last six years in a row,” Sellner said. “They’re the team to beat.”

Sellner added she is still trying to connect with alumni to take part in the festivities.

“Doesn’t matter what shape you’re in, just come on out,” she said.

For more information, or to join in the fun, contact Sellner at 204-797-6466.