CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The 15th annual Jimmy (Fiddler) MacDonald Memorial Baseball Tournament got underway Friday at Kiwanis Park and City Diamond in Victoria Park in Charlottetown.
The action continues today with the semifinals set for Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and the championship game at 1 p.m. at City Diamond.
The tournament, named in honour of Jimmy (Fiddler) MacDonald, the Hall of Fame pitching standout from the 1930s and my father, has attracted 10 of the best mosquito AAA teams from this region, including five from Prince Edward Island.
There are three teams from Nova Scotia (Halifax, Dartmouth and Truro) as well as the always-strong Fredericton squad and Miramichi City representing New Brunswick.
Jamie Macdonald, the ex-senior fastball standout with the Charlottetown Fawcetts, who did such a great job with Capital District Islanders last season with nine first-year players, now handles the Sherwood club but his team, again mostly first-year players, will be underdogs in this tournament.
In senior baseball action, the Charlottetown Gaudet’s Auto Body Islanders entertain the Fredericton Royals today at 2 p.m. at Memorial Field in the first of two games.
Rainouts earlier in the season have forced the Islanders (5-13) into another doubleheader with Fredericton (6-7) Sunday starting at 2 p.m. in Summerside.
The Islanders have been bolstered with the addition of two new players and with ace righty Jordan Stevenson likely to start both Saturday and Sunday, the local club could have a very successfully weekend.
In other baseball news, Nick Gravel, son of ex-UPEI Panther great Greg Gravel, has been invited to the Blue Jays under-16 camp, reserved for the 150 best baseball prospects in Canada. Nick played on P.E.I. a few weeks ago in the Craswell/MacLean memorial tournament and, according to Vince Mulligan, Nick was a standout as a pitcher, catcher, shortstop and as a hitter. I’ll follow this kid.
Celebrity appearances
The Novus Celebrity Golf Tournament, in support of the Boys and Girls Club of Summerside, concluded Tuesday at Prince County’s beautiful Mill River Golf course, which was in immaculate condition for the three-day event.
Organizer Adam Binkley has done a great job with this fundraiser, which included well-known sports figures like hockey stars Frank and Pete Mahovlich, Guy Lapointe, Clark Gilles, Bob Bourne and numerous others. Former heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes was a huge attraction as was contender George Chuvalo, a sentimental favourite.
The Atlantic Superstore Gala Dinner on Monday was soldout with more than 1,000 in attendance, which included The Trailer Park Boys. On the links, Summerside’s Gerard (Turk) Gallant, who gets my vote as the NHL’s best head coach, must be playing every day here as Binkley told me his golf game has improved immensely. I’d have to see that with my own eyes.
At the P.E.I. Golf Classic July 12 at Fox Meadow, a number of regulars were back for the 25th edition of the event. The list included former Toronto Blue Jay Al Woods, Dr. Bill Stanish out of Halifax, Boston’s Paul McGuire and singer-songwriter Bruce Guthro. P.E.I. tourism chief executive officer Kent MacDonald shot the lights out, as did his ex-Sherwood Parkdale Metros teammate Thane Hughes along with Rabs and Hubert (Sock) MacDonald and Forbes Kennedy. This team finished at -15 and didn’t win. The brothers and Forbie seem to play great when I’m not around — strange indeed.
Condolences
Sad news on the local hockey front with the Mike (Pinky) Gallant’s death on Wednesday.
He was a popular Summerside Western Caps standout from the 1970s and 1980s. When his playing days ended, he took up coaching and refereeing where is honestly and fairness brought him to the top in both categories.
Mike’s sons Brett, Bradley and Alex are well-known hockey figures, his brother Terry a successful trainer-driver and his sister Samantha active in Harness the Hope project.
My condolences to all connected to this gentleman.
Also, I regret to inform our readers of the death of Julie Hennessey, wife of the late Willis Hennessey, and the mother of Mike (Willis) Hennessey, the noon hockey league Comish. Willis Sr. was a colorful coach in local fastball and baseball circles.
Harness racing
Live harness racing continues tonight at 6 p.m. with an 11-dash card.
The highlight is the $3,000 preferred with Sock it Away on the rail against a tough field that includes Adkins Hanover, Czar Seelster, Rollwithitharry, Euchred and Bugsy Maguire.
Truro’s Grand Circuit Week continues tonight and Sunday with the $7,500 Lyndsay Construction Invitational attracting a tough field led by 2019 Governor’s Plate winner Rose Run Quest. Others include Do Over Hanover, Down On My Luck, Half Cut, Doctor Royal, Intended Royalty and Atlantis.
Congratulations to new owner Peter MacPhee and his partner Kurt Hughes as their four-year-old mare, March Magic, posted her first victory in Charlottetown, a come-from-behind 1:59 score Thursday night.
The P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association, along with Standardbred Canada and Red Shores, joined together in recognizing all grooms/caretakers Thursday night and presentations continue tonight.
At Mohawk a week ago, The Amazingsando blasted out of the nine-hole in the $108,000 gold final for two-year-old pacers and made a break. This colt does his best work from off the pace, and I’d expect a change of tactics next time out.
The recent Meadowlands Race was one of the most exciting ever with four horses across the wire at the finish in a blistering 1:48. And how about Lather Up’s stunning 2:01 victory over 1 1/8 miles after opening up with a 25:1 quarter.
The $250,000 Joe Garrity goes tonight at Saratoga with the likes of McWicked, Western Fame, Jimmy Freight and five others. At Mohawk Raceway tonight, Physicallyinclined is the favourite in the $34,000 top class against Easy Lover Hanover and eight others.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
