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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 45 Issue 26
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.06% 3 Year GIC - 2.36% 5 Year GIC - 2.71% Daily Interest 1.75%
Friday, June 29, 2012
Big ball game - Hundreds of people attended the international fastball exhibition doubleheader between the world champion New Zealand Black Sox and the Argentina national team in Moorefield on June 20. Centre: Mapleton Mayor Bruce Whale shares some smiles at the opening, while Hetty Meulenbelt, a long time volunteer for Moorefield minor ball who threw the ceremonial first pitch, and honorary umpire Dennis Craven look on. More photos on page 2. photos by David Meyer
Black Sox sweep but mural project big winner at doubleheader game by David Meyer MOOREFIELD - A pair of international fastball teams entertained about 500 people here on June 20 - with a local mural project the big winner. The New Zealand Black Sox swept the doubleheader against the Argentina national team at the newly-refurbished ball diamond, but both teams had a good tune-up for the Legends fastball tournament that ran over the weekend in Kitchener. That tournament is operated by Mapleton Township’s public works director Larry Lynch, who is also the field boss for the New York Gremlins, one of the teams in the Legends tournament. Several of the New Zealand players play for that New York team and Lynch considers them friends as well, and arranged the exhibition series with Argentina to help raise funds for a mural project for
Moorefield. That mural has been commissioned and will feature historic scenes of the town, including fastball players. The first game was close for three innings, then Black Sox Penese Iosefo hit a triple on a shot to the opposite field that eluded the Argentina fielder and started a rally for New Zealand. He later homered, over the left field fence this time, to make it 5-0. Argentina then came to life and scored several runs, only to have the Black Sox come right back and increase its lead. The final score in that seven inning game was 7-5. In the second game, New Zealand won easily, 7-1. Trends in fastball tend to move in cycles, with pitching dominating for several years, and then batters getting better. Lynch said there might be a couple of reasons for high scores against very fast pitch-
ers who had a lot of movement on the ball. First, he said, the hot humid weather was a factor. “I think all the pitchers lost some of their velocity after a couple of innings,� he said. Second, neither team had its aces present. In Argentina’s case, its top two pitchers were unavailable for the tour. That meant the clubs were able to test some of their lesser pitching staff, staggering the workload over a few innings for each of them. Finally, Lynch said, technology is getting much better and balls tend to rocket off the bat quickly, and bats are not only several ounces lighter than the standard bats of a decade ago, they have better compression. That would explain some of the shots that were hit over the eight foot high fence, located 250 feet from home plate in the corners. It also might explain run-
ners failing to score from second base on hard hit singles to left field - with the ball reaching the field so quickly there was no chance to come around third and try for home. “The balls really fly out of the park,� Lynch said of the improved bats. He said the New Zealand players had nothing but praise for the refurbished ball park in Moorefield, with its fence moved back and its new lights now installed. There were a couple of balls dropped in the outfield near the fence on both sides, and Lynch said that was likely because neither club was familiar with the park, plus the warning track is currently inconsistent in its width, due to the fence being moved. Lynch said there will be some work done on that track in the fall after the seasons are over. There is no senior men’s team in Moorefield this year,
so that will not likely be an issue for the season. Lynch said Black Sox players were very complimentary of the setting. “When they came in, they were impressed,� he said. “They said it was a beautiful park to play in. They said we should have more events there.� Lynch agrees with that sentiment and said he will be working with a number of different groups to see more events at the park. The New Zealanders also performed The Haka, a Maori war dance, prior to the game. It is designed to intimidate the opposition, but while the crowd was entertained, Argentina players glared right back at them during the entire ceremony. Lynch said the financial picture of the event is still not yet clear, but there were between 400 and 500 fans and
he believes, “I think we’re close to [the goal of $3,000].� There were also food and refreshment booths, plus raffles for such things as a Muskoka chair and tickets for the Legends tournament that is part of the fundraising. Former catcher Bruce Whale, who is also Mayor of Mapleton, welcomed the crowd to Moorefield. Hetty Meulenbelt, a volunteer for minor ball in Moorefield for over 30 years, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Whale, which was called by honorary umpire Dennis Craven. Bat boys and girls and game bat keepers were provided by Drayton-Moorefield Minor Softball. They were Zack Newmaster, Brent Ellison, and Erica and Daphne Culp. Dozens of businesses and organizations were thanked in the event’s official program, which provided a list of all the players.
Mapleton council hears of possible in-filling in hamlet of Glen Allan by David Meyer MAPLETON TWP. Council here is considering selling some land in Glen Allan that would be used for a house lot and provide some in-filling. Public works director Larry Lynch told council in a report on June 12 that for some time staff has been dealing with requests for the purchase and development of a lot on Centre Street in the hamlet that runs beyond the short section of road that already exists there. There are already two homes on that street. Lynch said while the township has dealt with a number of requests over the years, Linwood developer and home
builder Steve Sebben has not only pursued the issue, but is also willing to work with the township to ensure a deal. Lynch said Sebben, the manager of BC Recreational Landscape Construction, has “considerable experience in road building, landscape development and drainage issues. “He has met with staff on numerous occasions and has gone to considerable expense to have engineered drawings prepared based on my site visits and engineering directions to him,� Lynch said in his report. He added Sebben has “followed up on issues of design as it would affect road drainage,
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impact on adjacent properties and potential for future works.� That included hiring an engineer to develop a road cross section, profile and drainage plan that would extend the undeveloped portion of Centre Street, as well as provide for an approved turn around for snow clearing and emergency vehicles. Lynch noted Glen Allan is growing. “As council knows, there has been considerable construction activity in Glen Allan in recent years. The community has seen a new bridge constructed over the river; a new access and upgrade to the adjacent community park;
Wellington County Road 45 was reconstructed in 2011 and municipal sidewalks reconstructed and extended throughout the village. “There are currently two new houses being constructed in close proximity to the proposed development, one directly off Centre Street and one around the corner on Wellington County Road 45.� Lynch concluded, “Should Mr. Sebben be given the go ahead on the proposal, he would be responsible for the full cost to reconstruct the Centre Street extension, including clearing, grubbing, road construction, storm piping, catch basins, retaining walls and landscap-
Weekly Wag everything, To imagine is thing at all. to know is no nce - Anatole Fra
ing, all as per municipal standards. There are significant tree removals but he will work with the township staff to facilitate these at no cost to the township.� Lynch also noted Sebben has been in regular communication with adjacent property owners about possible issues with his design. Lynch said at council the lot is an “awkward landlocked piece of property,� but an entrance is available. He noted Sebben has worked with the City of Kitchener and “knows road building. He’s really proposing to clean up a lot of drainage problems to get this lot developed.�
Lynch said Sebben plans to put in all proper piping, including double catch basins. “I think he’s doing a very good job with what he’s proposing,� Lynch said, but Sebben is unwilling to proceed much further until council gives its approval. Sebben told council he has an option “to back out of the deal if council doesn’t like what I’m doing.� He said he has talked to the neighbours and showed them the drainage plans for the area and they are pleased some problems will be solved, and they will end up with less water on their lands than they Continued on page 6
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