The Quesnel Horseshoe Pitchers Club began the season with a spring in their step as they hosted the Spring Opener May 26-27 at the club’s grounds on Carson Pit Road.
Nine people showed up for the annual tournament, with five attending from Prince George.
Club president Phil Erickson says his pitching arm was feeling good going into the tournament, as the club has been hosting its weekly fun nights on Mondays and Wednesdays to warm up for the opener.
He says because the tournament had just nine participants, they mixed up the categories, allowing A, B, C and D ranked players to play against each other, to get more games in.
“Because we don’t have enough players, we play mixed doubles so we can have two or three games. Otherwise we have four C players, and they’ll play one day and that’s it for the weekend! So we make up mixed doubles so we can have at least two games on Saturday and two or three on Sunday,” he explains.
The tournament saw some great wins for both Quesnel and Prince George players.
Quesnel took spots one to three in the senior mens’ category, with Ciril Novak taking first, Erickson second and Lorenzo Ferrara third.
In the Mens B category, Novak and Erickson were tied for first and entered a playoff round, with Erickson beating Novak in the end.
Prince George club president Ida Boschman says there’s not really any rivalry between the two clubs.
“We get together and have coffee and cookies, and we chat. We have a lot of fun. We come here for Quesnel tournaments, and they come up to ours. We all support each other.
“Some of the Quesnel players can make you laugh right out of this world,” she says.
Boschman has been playing since 1995 and says she’ll pitch shoes till the day she dies.
“I like the competition. It’s really good.”
The Prince George club has their fun nights Monday and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. at their facility in Carrie Jane Grey Park. They currently have 12 members and welcome anyone who would like to join to try out the sport.
Quesnel’s club is also hoping more people will get involved in the sport.
“Anyone can join us for the activity at our fun nights. Membership isn’t expensive, and you get bragging rights when you win,” says Erickson.
The Prince George Club is hosting the Western Canada Classic in August this year, which will attract players from Manitoba west, as well as those from Yukon and the western United States. Any member of the Horseshoe Canada Association can play in the tournament.
Quesnel Horseshoe Pitchers Club is hosting its next tournament, the Quesnel Open, on June 9 and 10. They also hold a Mid-Summer Fun event during Billy Barker Days on July 14-15, the Quesnel Fall Wind-up on Aug. 11-12, and the Quesnel unsanctioned Doubles on Sept. 9.
For more information, contact club president Phil Erickson at 250-991-8035 or club secretary Jeanette Ferrara at 250-747-3109.
Spring Opener results
Senior men
1st Ciril Novak, Quesnel, six wins no loss
2nd Phil Erickson, Quesnel, five wins one loss
3rd Lorenzo Ferrara, Quesnel, four wins two losses
4th Mike Cunningham, Prince George, three wins three losses
5th Herb Boschman, Prince George, two wins four losses
6th Esko Karlson, Prince George, one win five losses
Mens B
1st Phil Erickson, Quesnel, five wins one loss
2nd Ciril Novak, Quesnel, four wins two losses
3rd Lorenzo Ferrara, Quesnel, three wins two losses
4th Mike Cunningham, Prince George, three wins two losses
Mens C
1st Herb Boschman, Prince George
Mens D
1st Esko Karlson, Prince George
Womens B
1st Ida Boschman, Prince George, two wins one loss
2nd Helene Boudreau, Quesnel, one win two losses
