Ron Shewchuk was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba on September 23, 1959. Shewchuk was involved in umpiring programs in Manitoba, Canada, and international baseball for over 35 years. He umpired over 50 championship matches, and over 900 professional games. In 13 national championships, he was always behind the plate or at first base. Internationally, Shewchuk worked at eight championships, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Because of his success and dedication, he earned Baseball Manitoba and Baseball Canada Umpire of the Year awards. Shewchuk also made significant contributions to the provincial and national umpire programs through his extensive administrative involvement.

The Carman Goldeyes completely dominated Junior baseball in Manitoba from 1971-1974 as they captured MJBL and Provincial title in all four years. Strong pitching, batting and defence were hallmarks of this team. Comprised of talented, and eager young ball players in their first year of this four year run, many of the players played all four years, and went on to illustrious senior careers. Several have already been inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame as individuals and/or with senior teams.

 

Carman Goldeyes : 1971 July 3rd Newspaper Article

Carman Goldeyes : 1973 Newspaper Article

Carman Goldeyes 1971

Carman Goldeyes: Winnipeg Tribune July 12, 1971

Carman Goldeyes : 1971 Newspaper Article

These articles were gathered from the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections, Winnipeg Tribune Collection

Warren has always produced top-notch baseball players and teams, especially so from 1974-1979. By focusing on the fundamentals of good defense, quality pitching and timely hitting, this team met their competition head on. Warren played in the Interlake Baseball League which consisted of 10 teams from 1968-79. They won championships in 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1979. Warren also played in many tournaments for several years highlighted in 1976 by winning the Holland tournament over the Carman Goldeyes.

Beginning in 1987, the Morden Mohawks became dominant in their league. They not only won 11 consecutive Border League Championships, but over the next 14 years they would go on to win this championship 13 times. In 1994 they had a perfect 24-0 win/loss record in regular schedule and league playoffs, which earned them the Manitoba Baseball Team of the Year. The Mohawks competed in the majority of Provincial Senior “B” Championships and were a dominant supplier of players to the roster for Provincial “A” teams during this era. Morden players competed with the “A” team at the Western Canadian Championships in 1993, 1994, and 1997.

The Brandon Marlins entered the MSBL in 1995 under the coaching of the late Neil Andrews to keep the league viable as it was down to three senior teams. After some growing pains the Marlins won their first league championship and provincial title in 1999. The Marlins repeated as champions in 2001 with a powerful team that set a record for runs scored with 171 in an MSBL 18 game schedule while racking up a .344 team batting average. The Marlins continued their success with league and provincial titles highlighted by playing in front of their home fans in 2006. From 1998-2004 the Marlins hosted a three day Canada Day tournament for senior teams from Manitoba, Sask., and the USA with the Marlins winning in 2004.

 

Trevor Proctor was born in Woodlands, Manitoba on May 16, 1969. Procter was an outstanding player at all levels. He led his 1986 midget team to nationals and also took senior teams to nine Western Canadian and Canadian championships, winning three silver and a gold. Procter was a very versatile player, though he normally played third base. He was voted Defensive Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons in his junior career with Legion 141. As an 18-year-old pickup, he hit .571 at the 1988 Senior Western Canadian Championship in Kamloops, BC. He had a lengthy and successful career in the Redboine Senior League, as well as with the Stonewall Blue Jays of the Winnipeg Senior Baseball League. Procter took up coaching minor ball in his home town of Woodlands, and he was instrumental in keeping baseball alive in the community. Several of his coached teams have made provincial appearances, but more importantly, he inspired and motivated children in the community to continue playing baseball.

Terry Mayert was born in Reston, Manitoba. Mayert was well known for his abilities and competitiveness during his lengthy career in the Southwest Baseball League from 1978-98. He spent most of his career with the Reston Rockets, where he won league top pitcher and league MVP awards along with 13 all-star selections as an outfielder or pitcher. Mayert made numerous appearances at provincial championships with Southwest teams and attended three western Canadian championships, including in 1983 where his team won the title. In the double-knockout finals of the 1981 provincial A tournament, Mayert was called on to pitch. He and his team defeated the Neepawa Farmers in game 1, and lost game 2 by a score of 1-0. Mayert pitched all 14 innings of these games. He was previously inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the Deloraine Royals and the Waskada Orioles.

Jason Mateychuk was born in Dominion City, Manitoba on August 28, 1971. Mateychuk posted an extensive resume as a player, coach, and builder for the sprot of baseball within Manitoba. He had an outstanding junior career from 1987-92 with the Elmwood Giants, and he excelled as a pitcher, first baseman, and power hitter. Mateychuk had a four year career at Mayville State and was All-Conference in 1993. He began his senior career in 1993, and from 1995-2004 was player-coach with the Carillon Sultans of the Winnipeg Senior League. The Sultans won five league championships and the 2003 Provincial Senior A title. Mateychuk was later a player-coach of the Franklin Border Kings of the Border East League from 2005-11, and he won four more league championships. After induction into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame, Mateychuk continued to coach at all levels and ages. He also contributed to baseball Manitoba and minor baseball in clinician and executive capacities.

Doug Freeth was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on May 10, 1954. He was a powerful strikeout starting pitcher who dominated the Manitoba Junior Baseball League from 1969-72 with the St. Boniface Legionnaires junior team. While pitching for Manitoba in 1973 at the Canada Summer Games, he threw 15 innings of shutout ball including a nine inning 1-0 victory against New Brunswick and five scoreless innings in the gold medal game against BC. Freeth also pitched professionally in the Rookie League for the Edmonton Trappers in 1974 and for Manitoba senior teams in St. Boniface, Souris, and Teulon from 1973-78. Standing at 6’5″ Freeth was an all-around strong and imposing athlete. He was even on a 1976 Canadian champion basketball team from the University of Manitoba.

 

Doug Freeth 2018-05-08

These articles were gathered from the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections, Winnipeg Tribune Collection

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Troy Fortin was born in Lundar, Manitoba on February 24, 1975. Fortin had a dominating minor ball career, in which he often played above his age bracket. This earned him the Manitoba Baseball Association Minor Player of the Year award in 1990 and 1992. Fortin was drafted as a catcher in 1993 by the Minnesota Twins and rose through the Twins’ minor league system from rookie classification to AA from 1993-98. In 1996, he set an “A” ball record by going 25 games and 75 at-bats without striking out. Fortin later asked for release from the Twins so that he could join the Winnipeg Goldeyes in 1998. His offensive and defensive talents were on full display for local fans to admire until his retirement in 2000. Fortin batted at a .332 average with a .940 On-base percentage plus slugging, while committing only five errors in almost three full seasons as a Goldeye. In 1999, Fortin also played for Team Canada in the Pan-Am Games in Winnipeg, winning bronze. Following his retirement from the Goldeyes, Fortin played for several Manitoba senior teams and at Canadian senior tournaments.