Peter Chambers added to Gil Read Honour Roll

Local players and fans will recognize Pete Chambers as the coach of the Waterdown Hammer who made a few trips up this way for tournaments in the past ten years.

from Mike Goodridge

Every year the Ontario Amateur Softball Association names one coach to the Gil Read Honour Roll. This year's winner is Peter Chambers from the Waterdown Hammer. Recently the OASA held their awards banquet and here is part of Peter's biography.

Peter has been involved in the game of fastball for over 40 years. Peter grew up in Woodstock and played his minor ball there. He then went to Oxford Centre to play men's ball in the ORSA. Work took him to Oakville where he continued playing in a men's league there. In 1998 Pete started coaching the Waterdown Hammer, a Men's team that has competed in the OASA for many years.

The Hammer does not enjoy the high profile reputation that some Ontario senior fastball do, but they have constantly fielded a competitive team. The team currently plays in the Golden Horseshoe Fastball League.

Men's teams have folded for various reasons, including a lack of dedicated individuals who are willing to coach, organize, raise money and keep a team together. Pete Chambers is one of those individuals. He has been the glue that has kept this team together for the past 15 years. One of his philosophies is that he wants players that will compete with intensity and class. The joy he receives from coaching is watching the camaraderie and love of the game of his players.

The Waterdown Hammer are a team that does not pay any ball players. They play because they have a deep love of fastball and enjoy their teammates. The successful teams in Ontario today treat the team as a family and Pete Chambers of the Waterdown Hammer is no exception.

This past season The Hammer captured the OASA Masters gold medal and had a extremely successful ISCs.

Peter was unable to be present to receive the award in person and it will be presented next spring.