There’s no shortage of worthy candidates for the North Cowichan-Duncan Sports Wall of Fame, as the Class of 2022 clearly demonstrates.
There have now been 57 inductees – including teams, athletes, builders, coaches and officials – since the program began and the list of accomplishments by every one of them simply boggles the mind.
The Chemainus, Saltair and Crofton region has already been well-represented in the inductions and two more are among the latest additions: umpire Roy Price and the 1987 Stuart Channel Little League baseball team.
Baseball has a long and prestigious history around Chemainus, but this is actually some very recent history we’re talking about here.
Price is a most worthy inductee for his commitment in an area where it’s difficult to get volunteers. Umpiring isn’t a glamorous position, but Price made it that way during his own personal assignments and attracted many young people over the years to join the ranks while he was umpire-in-chief.
Price made umpiring fun. It was fun to work games, get involved in the action, develop your own dramatic style that added pizzazz to the game and then enrich some lasting friendships with others.
Chemainus baseball has never been so blessed as to have someone of Price’s abilities and direction for such a long period of time.
Little League baseball used to be a big deal, but numerous structural changes have made it virtually obsolete in most areas of the province. The chance to reach the ultimate goal of the World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania always seemed like an impossible dream.
But this small area compared to other regions had the best of all worlds when a group of kids the same age came along with baseball talent and made a commitment to reach for the top.
Manager Mel Dorey saw it coming and wanted to make the most of it for what could surely be considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
To have it all fall one game short of making the World Series was an unimaginable heartbreak, but those players are all richer for that experience today and the community can take great pride in that accomplishment.
