Article on Jim Bradford Classic
A newspaper article on the Jim Bradford Classic tournament via FastpitchWest. I've been to the tournament the last three years, but will miss this one in 2011 unfortunately. Steve Bedard and his gang do a good job and it attracts lots of good ball. If you going, I recommend renting a "suite" at the luxurious Motel 401. That's some top quality accommodations there let me tell ya.
COBOURG -- For the 21st edition of the local fastball tournament this year, the Jim Bradford Classic has a new home.
Organizer Steve Bedard said the Classic will be held this year at Legion Fields in Cobourg, the weekend of June 10 to 12.
Due to the challenge of finding a sufficient number of volunteers the past few years, Bedard has handed the reigns off to Cobourg Legion Minor Softball Organization, which will run the tournament that weekend with their volunteers. Bedard, meanwhile, is still involved.
"They will get all the profits," Bedard said. "It's a fundraiser for minor ball."
For the first 16 years, the tournament was held in Baltimore before moving to Grafton for the past four years. The existing tournament was renamed in memory of Jim Bradford following his death in 2001.
Bradford, who was from Baltimore, was the only nationally recognized Level 5 umpire in both fast-pitch and slo-pitch. In 2003, he was inducted into Softball Canada's Hall of Fame.
Bedard is grateful for the few dedicated volunteers who did help run the Classic the last few years, and also expressed gratitude to arena manager Dave Harnden who looked after the diamonds.
"I want to thank Dave Harnden for all his hard work down in Grafton," Bedard remarked.
As many as 16 teams (in the past they've come from Ontario, Quebec and the United States) are expected to compete, highlighted by the host Cobourg Force. In addition to several local players, the Force are expected to have International Softball Congress (ISC) hall-of-fame pitcher Darren Zack in the lineup, Bedard noted.
A new addition to the weekend this year will be a home run derby, expected to take place during the Saturday afternoon.
More information about the tournament will be available in the coming weeks.
COBOURG -- For the 21st edition of the local fastball tournament this year, the Jim Bradford Classic has a new home.
Organizer Steve Bedard said the Classic will be held this year at Legion Fields in Cobourg, the weekend of June 10 to 12.
Due to the challenge of finding a sufficient number of volunteers the past few years, Bedard has handed the reigns off to Cobourg Legion Minor Softball Organization, which will run the tournament that weekend with their volunteers. Bedard, meanwhile, is still involved.
"They will get all the profits," Bedard said. "It's a fundraiser for minor ball."
For the first 16 years, the tournament was held in Baltimore before moving to Grafton for the past four years. The existing tournament was renamed in memory of Jim Bradford following his death in 2001.
Bradford, who was from Baltimore, was the only nationally recognized Level 5 umpire in both fast-pitch and slo-pitch. In 2003, he was inducted into Softball Canada's Hall of Fame.
Bedard is grateful for the few dedicated volunteers who did help run the Classic the last few years, and also expressed gratitude to arena manager Dave Harnden who looked after the diamonds.
"I want to thank Dave Harnden for all his hard work down in Grafton," Bedard remarked.
As many as 16 teams (in the past they've come from Ontario, Quebec and the United States) are expected to compete, highlighted by the host Cobourg Force. In addition to several local players, the Force are expected to have International Softball Congress (ISC) hall-of-fame pitcher Darren Zack in the lineup, Bedard noted.
A new addition to the weekend this year will be a home run derby, expected to take place during the Saturday afternoon.
More information about the tournament will be available in the coming weeks.
Labels: Tournament
posted by fitzroyfastball | 5/06/2011 07:35:00 pm
1 Comments:
Hi there. I've been searching for a news article about Jim Bradford being inducted to the hall of fame in 2003. Would you have any idea where I could find something like this?
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