18 - Southpoint Sun
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Local star pitcher made it to west coast semi-pro ball By C. Scott Holland His name is not one many think of when it comes to local athletes who had a shot at the major leagues. But 100 years ago, Leamington native Clarence Huffman was not only considered Essex County’s best pitcher, but a rising star who had a golden opportunity to latch on to a Major League Baseball team.
In February of 1921, the 17year-old Leamington native signed a contract with the Herman Sheet Metal Works baseball team of Los Angeles. The team played in the California City league, which was rated semi-professional. Huffman pitched in his first league game and won it 11-3. He struck out 17 batters, allowed eight hits and walked
two. To further display his potential, he had three hits, all coming at opportune times. One of those three hits was a triple. At the time, a Los Angeles newspaper paper stated, “Huffman, formerly of a Canadian League team, by effective pitching and timely hitting, made it possible for the Herman Sheet Metal Works team to win over
their opponents.” Huffman was offered a oneyear contract in Los Angeles, but turned it down for a threemonth stint, since he was not certain whether he would remain in L.A. for any length of time. He returned to Leamington, where he starred locally for many years.
CLARENCE HUFFMAN
Sports flashbacks from 1973 highlight lots of hockey
Caledonia eliminates Flyers The defending champion Leamington Flyers bowed out of the Ontario Hockey Association Junior C playoffs Thursday before the largest crowd of the season at Leamington Arena. Over 1800 fans watched the Flyers bow to the Caledonia Corvairs 8-2 in the deciding game seven of the series. Injuries and penalties hurt the Flyers chances. Art Hickson and Dave Omstead scored the only Leamington goals, as they were missing defencemen Greg Coulter and Brian Sellon. Scoring machine Kris Manery was also hampered by a groin injury. Chuck Turner took
the loss in the Flyers’ net, while Don Edwards turned aside 34 shots by the Flyers. Omsteads beat Mic Macs The Wheatley Omsteads took a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven series over the Blytheswood Mic Macs for the 1973 South Essex Hockey League championship, with a decisive 7-3 win Monday. Seven Wheatley players beat Mic Macs goalie Peter Knight. Jim Gillanders, Elmer Jackson, Tim Dobson, John Gillespie, Ken Dorion, Terry Jackson and Andy Herring got the goals. Gary Hillier, Doug Grubb and Bob Whittle were the only Mic Mac scorers to beat Roy Taylor in the
Hockey photo misidentified
The hockey photo that ran in last week’s Southpoint Sun entitled “Wrapping Up the Season”, was mistakenly identified as a team from the Wheatley Hockey Group. In fact, this was a private group of Southpoint Minor Hockey players, who were getting in continued development and training up until the province shut things down on March 21. We apologize for the error.
Omsteads net. Ribble finishes Jr. A season Former Leamington Flyers’ defenceman Pat Ribble was among the leading scorers for the Oshawa Generals this past season as the rookie rear guard scored 11 goals and assisted on 27 other Oshawa markers. Oshawa was eliminated last week by the Peterborough Petes in quarter-final OHA play. The six-foot-four, 200 lb. Ribble, 18, is eligible to play junior hockey for one more season and expects to return to the Generals’ blueline next fall. Hillier honoured Staples native and former Leamington Flyer, Gary Hillier, was honoured with the coach’s trophy for hockey at the sixth annual St. Clair College Students Athletic Association awards banquet last week. Hiller, who played both defence and forward for the Saints this season, was recognized for his desire, ability, determination and academic standing.
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Juvenile title on the line The championship playoffs in the Essex County Juvenile Hockey League are going down to the wire. Leamington Ardiel Pontiac Juveinle Minors are deadlocked in the final series 2-2 with the Maidstone Green Hornets. The final game in the best-of-five series is set to be played Friday night. Leamington dropped a 6-5 decision to Maidstone on the weekend, which tied the series. Mike Epplett, Ron Richmond, Bob Mihlroth, Mike Trudelle and Mike Zaworotuk scored the Leamington goals. Gary Lauzon stymied the Leamington shooters, turning away numerous high-end chances. Leamington goaltender Wayne Gillett played equally as well, but a few third-period lapses by his defence left him out to dry. Raceway sets record Leamington Kinsmen Raceway reached great success on Sunday as over 1600 people wagered a total of $93,000.
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race. Goaltenders Maurice Ternoey and Paul Anthony split the duties between the pipes evenly, with Ternoey sporting a 2.24 GAA while Anthony had a 2.70 GAA. The penalty minute leader was Jamie Stickney, with 96 minutes in the box. The Legion team was eliminated in the second round of the OMHA AA playoffs by Riverside.
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Both of those figures are new highs for the raceway. A pair of Leamington-trained horses combined for a whopping $494.00 exactor in the eighth race as Bill Winger brought Roger Song across the finish line first in a fast 2:09.4, followed by second-place longshot, Canetta, driven by Ron Myers. Wheatley’s Doug McIntosh made his first appearance at Leamington Raceway this season and won the feature race aboard Bengazi Miss. Midgets finish season Tim Towle and John Emerson led the Leamington Legion Midget Hockey Team in scoring this past season as the team won 24, lost 21 and tied six games. Emerson had 24 goals and 20 assists, while Towle potted 20 goals and added 24 helpers. Dave Bowden and Dave Reid finished three-four in the scoring
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