Conner Hopper wins Ottawa Sports Award for 2025

The Ottawa Sports Awards honour the Ottawa area's finest athletes annually. They have recognized a softball player of the year since 1955. 

This year's winner is Conner Hopper, who also won the award in 2023. This is the third year in a row that a Fitzroy Harbour resident has been given the award, as Colton Lecuyer got the nod in 2024.

Hop will receive his award at a gala event on February 4.

The write up on the OSA site for Conner's 2025 successes in softball was as follows:

Softball – Conner Hopper: Conner hit a momentum-shifting grand slam for Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games, helping the squad capture gold. As a member of the West Carleton Electric U20 squad, he won bronze at the Ontario Amateur Softball Association provincial tournament. He also suited up for the Plattsville Lightning at the Softball Canada U20 Men’s Championship, contributing to a medal-round finish, and competed in ISC World Tournament qualifying events earlier in the year. 

Conner played locally last year in the Fitzroy Harbour Men's Fastball League, as well with West Carleton Electric U20 in the Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League and with West Carleton Electric in the Greater Ottawa Fastball League. He also participated in the OASA U23 Men's elimination tournament with West Carleton Electric U23 and at the OASA Men's elimination tournament and the Softball Canada Men's Canadian Championship with the Micksburg Twins

Many past recipients of the award have been featured on the blog, including Don Cox, Kyle Jamieson, Randy Peck, Bruce Casselman, Kevin Chevrier, Matt Bowman, Joel Langford, Andrew Putnam, Grace Lonergan, Erin Durant, Elissa Sivel, and Joran Graham.

Bill Rump

Bill Rump of Carp died back in December at 75.  

An entrepreneur who started and operated a few different businesses,  "Wild Bill" was also sponsor of men's fastball teams in the 80s and 90s, including starting the Carp Valley Pride, an ISC team that brought in New Zealand imports.

Obituary here. 

Blog story about a Carp Valley Pride article from 1990 here. 

Greg "Peck" Perrin (updated)

Greg "Peck" Perrin, a familiar face at softball diamonds in eastern Ontario, western Québec and upstate New York, has died.

Greg, originally from Cornwall, was 65. He was a former umpire and was also involved recently in coaching. 

Peck was friendly guy with a deep love of fastpitch softball. For more information on memorial services, his obituary is here.

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Update - a message about Greg from Eastern Ontario Umpires Association president, Gary Findley.

 

It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of one of our most respected members and a true pillar of the softball community, Greg "Peck" Perrin. Greg passed away on January 18th at the age of 65.

 

For Greg, fast-pitch was truly his life’s work. He started playing ball at a very young age, and by the time he was 14, he had already begun his journey as an umpire. After a storied career as a pitcher, where my father, George Findley, recalls he earned the nickname "Peck" for his ability to "peck the corners" of the plate, he transitioned into a lifelong career in officiating that spanned half a century.

 

Greg’s commitment to our sport was immense. In addition to serving as a Zone Umpiring Chief for Softball Ontario, he served as Vice President of the EOUA on and off for ten years between 2009 and 2021. In 2023, he was awarded our most coveted honor, the John Jordan Lifetime Achievement Award. Beyond our local association, Greg was a fixture throughout the softball circuit in Eastern Ontario, Quebec, and Upstate New York.

 

On a personal level, I have known Greg since 2016. I am incredibly grateful for the mentorship he provided me; his guidance and deep knowledge of the game were instrumental in helping me become the umpire I am today.

Harbour Ball award winners

Even though it is January, the Fitzroy Harbour Men's Fastball League held its banquet last night.

Ottawa Valley Coffee, captained by Cole Ross, were recognized as regular season winners of the seven-team league. 

Grandor Farms were the playoff champions, and their captain John Sullivan was recognized as the league's Most Valuable Player.

John Sullivan, captain of Grandor Farms

The Connor Engleberts Memorial Award as Sportsman of the Year, as chosen by the Harbour Ball umpires, was Owen Brown, captain of the Campbell Fuels Logsplitters. 

Owen Brown, captain of the Campbel Fuels Logsplitters

Carp Shootout 2026: June 5-7

The 2026 edition of the Carp Shootout, the fourth annual, will be held on June 5 to 7 at the Carp Fairgrounds. This tournament features payouts for every game.

The Vars Aces won the 2025 edition of the event. The Micksburg Twins won the first two editions in 2023 and 2024.

See poster below for more information: