Al Piette accepts the Carl Myers Memorial Trophy as volunteer of the year during the Whitchurch-Stouffville Softball Association’s house league championships in Memorial Park from trophy donor Mary Myers, the wife of the late Carl Myers. Mr. Piette has helped out in local softball circles for more than 35 years.
Sports
September 06, 2008 11:28 PM
Jim Thomas
For Al Piette, receiving the Carl Myers Memorial Trophy as volunteer of the year during the Whitchurch-Stouffville Softball Association’s house league championships at Memorial Park last month, came as a surprise.
But not to the association’s players, coaches and executive.
All say it’s long overdue.
Piette’s been a member of the association more than 35 years, beginning shortly after he moved to Stouffville in 1968.
And while his active participation is now confined mainly to slo-pitch, he’s done everything from T-ball to fastball.
“It came as a complete surprise,” Piette said, “I went looking for the delivery slip not knowing someone had sneaked it out of the carton in advance.”
The presentation was made by association president June Doner assisted by trophy donor Mary Myers, the wife of the late Carl Myers.
The inscription reads: “For the sacrificial dedication to the kids and the association of the WSSA in leadership and sportsmanship”.
For Piette, a retired Stouffville District Secondary School teacher, athletic involvement has been a large part of his life.
At SDSS, he coached wrestling, volleyball and fastball teams, leading two of the latter to provincial championships. After daughter Terri came of age, he branched into rep ball.
However, when the association experienced a shortage of umpires, he donned the chest protector and mask.
He’s been doing it ever since.
shortage of officialsPiette admits his preference has always been the plate rather than the bases.
“On the bases, it’s sometimes difficult to maintain one’s concentration,” he claims, “particularly if the score’s one-sided.
But the plate’s a different story.
“There, you’re always in the game. With balls zipping in at 80 m/h, you have to be.”
Piette now chooses slo-pitch, working the York Christian Sports Fellowship, Tuesday Night Ladies and Goodwood Men’s Recreation leagues. Assistants are Mark Simpson, Paul Doner, Jerry Snow, Jim Fletcher and Cliff Dunkeld.
Time to retire?
“When it reaches a point that I no longer enjoy it, I’ll be done,” he says.
Piette admits the commitment often cuts into time he’d rather spend fishing. Still, with officials in short supply, he intends to carry on.
As for having his name inscribed on the Carl Myers trophy, Piette says it’s an honor.
Other recipients include: Howard Burkholder, 1991; David Boyd, 1992; David Miller, 1993 and 1999; Ted Assinck, 1994; Mary Deveaux, 1995; Bill Johnson, 1996; Ken Wood, 1997; Mike Heffernan, 2004; Paul Doner, 2005; Rebecca Doner, 2006 and Laura Powell, 2007.