One of the traits of a dedicated volunteer is somebody who gives up their time and energy without directly benefitting in return. These folks can be seen in the workings of different clubs and organizations across the city — too countless, really, to keep track. But some of the ones most deserving of a mention are found in the fabric of the tight-knit amateur sports organizations such as Hastings Community Little League.
President Kevin Clegg publicly thanked a long list of people during Hastings’ opening day ceremonies Saturday morning at the club’s temporary field at Falaise Park. Scott and Grace Browning were mentioned for “registration and always helping out” for 42 years, Bob Hicks, also known as “Barbecue Bob,” was thanked for tending the coals for 25 years.
Jim Gregor’s name was mentioned for his 48 years that included titles that ranged from president to being on the organizing committee of the 2016 Little League Championships, which Hastings is hosting. Many others, too, have donated time that amounts to a big chunk of life, long after their own children played through the baseball divisions.
“I’ve been a construction labourer all my life and when I see people doing manual work, I tend to jump in and help out,” said Richard Saunders, who as past president and chair of next year’s national Little League championship, has put in 31 years with Hastings Community Little League so far.
“So what I would do is jump in and help rake the field, put the bases out — things like that. The thing about Hastings Community Little League is that the most important word in that title is community. You really are part of a small community. People you work with in Little League you’ve known for 20 or 30 years and it’s great to see people you haven’t seen all winter. It’s the same thing as running into folks at the Safeway.”
Saunders first became involved in baseball with the Trout Lake Little League when his son had asked to play. Three of the five boys — two biological and one of the three foster kids — living under the Saunders’ roof played ball. But it was Jesse Saunders who started at Hastings as a five-year-old, winding up as an 18-year-old with a mean pitch that clocked in at almost 90 miles an hour, that turned the household into a baseball family.
“We were never really baseball people. Never watched it on TV or anything like that. And Jesse went to New Mexico on a baseball scholarship,” said the 66-year-old father.
“What we learned through him was an appreciation for the game of baseball. Now, when I see opening day and all those colourful uniforms out there and the little kids digging in the dirt and stuff, it’s here we go, here comes summer. I love it.”
Hastings Community Little League started in 1953, just two years after Little League Baseball started in Canada. Hastings has always considered itself as a small market league with player numbers sitting at about 400. Compare that to some other Lower Mainland leagues such as White Rock’s 1,200 registered players and you’ll see why the Vancouver boys and girls generated so many little-team-that-could headlines in 2009 and 2012 when its 11- and 12-year-old Major All-Star teams represented Canada at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Hastings Park is under construction in preparation to host the national championships which is why Falaise, with its careworn diamonds with rock-hard gravel surface, is being used by the league this year. No matter, it will make the wait that much more rewarding.
“Hastings is a little different because of its location. We’re right across the street from Playland so you’re constantly hearing the rides going all the time and the kids love that,” said Saunders. “The only unfortunate part of that is, quite often, they’re standing with their backs to the baseball game because they’re watching the rides. Which is handy for us when we have teams from other districts come and play against us because they really can’t help but to turn around and watch. So, we have a bit of an advantage.”
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