Great Canadians
28 May 2009
Story by Don Brennan, Sun Media
Ottawa Nepean pitcher joins four builders in club's first hall of fame class
The best Ottawa Nepean Canadian of them all wanted nothing more than to be a Canadian participating in the Olympics.
He was given the ball and the chance to realize that dream in 1995.
"We came within one game," said Shawn O'Connor, reflecting back on the qualifier against Nicaragua for the right to play in the Atlanta Games the next year. "I didn't pitch horribly. Things just didn't go the way we planned."
More often than not, though, O'Connor had his way on the diamond. He spent five years with the national team, and he was the star of the Ottawa Nepean Canadians for 17 summers. When the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary next month, O'Connor will be justly honoured.
The Canadians will hold an alumni game June 10 at Hamilton Yards, with the likes of Mike Kusiewicz, Mike Arundel, Doug Miller and Jake Cole joining O'Connor in an exhibition against the current U18 squad. Two nights later, O'Connor and four builders will be the first inductees into the Ottawa Nepean Canadians Baseball Hall of Fame.
Also being recognized for their contributions will be the late Bruce and Gord Hamilton -- the brothers after whom the team's home park behind the Nepean Sportsplex is named -- the late Fred Wigney and Bob Elliott.
SAVED TEAM
Bruce Hamilton also founded the Pinecrest Little League in the 1960s, and he and Gord resurrected the Canadians from financial ruin in the '70s.
Wigney's support of the team was obvious from Day 1, and Elliott, a Toronto Sun reporter who is known as one of North America's finest baseball writers, kept the Canadians alive in the late '70s and '80s before he left the capital.
"When you look at guys like Bruce, Gord, Bobby and Fred, those guys were great people who did all the hard work behind the scenes," said O'Connor. "Playing was easy."
O'Connor made it look that way, at least. A pitcher and a second baseman, he was always more comfortable on the mound.
"Playing second, for me, was more nerve-wracking," he said.
O'Connor, now 43 and an OC Transpo employee, quit playing six years ago. He and wife Shelley have three daughters, Kiley, Taya and Darby, and his only involvement with the game now is as a coach on Kiley's softball team.
"It's a great honour, obviously," he said of being the first player named to the Ottawa Nepean Canadians Hall of Fame. "I always loved playing for the organization ... it was a great organization with great people. I never dreamt of playing anywhere else."
Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner at the Lone Star June 12 are $30. They can be purchased at the Ottawa Nepean Canadians Sports Club on Cobden Rd. Those interested can also contact Cathie Milinkovich (milink@sympatico.ca) or Al Drisdelle (allen.drisdellel@sympatico.ca).