Optimist PK London, Sept 3 2005, SPO Provincial championship games, SoB 50 team
Back - Norm Gawley - Larry (LT) Taylor - Dan Futa - Craig Williamson - Mike Lyons - Doug Lowe
Front row - Wayne (Boots) Crowley - Ron Berry - Manfred Maier - Don Vass - Hal Ridley
The London park has many innovations to comfort the players and keep the game moving. The lack of tree shade is made up for with strategically placed sun protecting beer tents that also has the advantage of housing many picnic tables for restful seating between games.
It is interesting to understand what they have done with netting throughout the park. The 10 field complex has 2 sets of 4 groups of diamonds. Each group of 4 diamonds spoke outwards from a centered pedestrian area which is back onto by home plate. Netting is rigged over the pedestrian area connecting all 4 diamonds. The netting protects the crowd from foul balls and is nicely slopped to return the ball back to the ball diamond; almost to the umpire. Also pictured below is a free on site practice pitching/batting cage all made from netting. Use a live pitcher, hit away and the netting confines the ball.
Pictured above are Mike Lyons, Lloyd Shoniker and Dennis Snow looking on a Sunday game as the Aging-As defeat the Brampton Nissan 55. Despite our SoB Rec team were competing way over their heads by being placed in the 50 competitive division, they actually had their best game (only losing by 4)against the Aging-As who won it all this weekend. The back of Dennis' shirt says it all - It starts with the right attitude!