Essex Rookie Travel Team Takes OBA Championship the Essex Rookie Travel Baseball Team Took the 2008 OBA Championship for D Division
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008 • Page 17 Essex Rookie Travel team takes OBA championship The Essex Rookie Travel baseball team took the 2008 OBA Championship for D Division. Here, Essex players pose ‘Brand new’ Model A Ford in Nova Scotia with Toronto Blue Jays pitchers Jesse Fred Embree of Northport, Nova Scotia, is the proud owner of a car that was built Litsch, left, and 77 years ago. He bought it in pieces and now it’s like new again: A.J. Burnett, “Back in the 1940s, I told my wife Jennie I would love to own a brand new Model A before game time Ford. We were raising a family back then and couldn’t afford it. Sept. 7. “Two years ago, I was looking through Old Autos newspaper and came across an ad Photo courtesy of from Mike Dobson, who was selling a 1931 Model A Ford in parts. I bought the car Chris Mastroianni and Vic Mattison of Pugwash, N.S., went up to Oshawa and brought it home for me. “I took it completely apart and bought all new parts from George Moir in Alberta On Labour Day weekend, a few more highlights includ- team was in for an even big- and Dixie in Ontario. Vic Mattison put it all back together for me and painted it. My the Essex rookie travel team ed: two clutch double plays ger surprise. Since Essex wife Jennie picked out the colours – two-tone green. Go Glass in Amherst, N.S., went to Exeter to compete in turned by Noah Fuerth and drove the farthest that day, installed new windows and upholstery and the car is now 95 per cent brand new. the OBA Division D champi- Cale Cooper; a relay throw the Blue Jays personnel had “I won’t tell you onships. The team played six out at the plate led by Kade awarded all the players and what it cost, but I tough games and won all six McKibbon; and Game 4, coaches a chance to sit in the finally now have a on its way to victory. which included six home TD Canada Trust comfort brand new Model In the final game the Essex runs, outstanding base run- zone (which are those big A Ford and my team played the host team, ning by all players, and a stel- green leather chairs in the wife and I are Exeter. It was an exciting lar defensive and offensive front row). They took turns very proud of it. game as Exeter took a five- performance by the coaches' sharing these seats and also We were married run lead in the first inning. player of the tournament, enjoyed complimentary pop, on November 19, Essex stormed back with six Kale Ambrose. hotdogs, peanuts and pop- 1942, and recently runs of their own and, from Special thanks to all the corn. What could get better celebrated our that point on, let their out- families and friends for all than this! 65th wedding standing defense take over, their support all season long. Oh, the Blue Jays beat the anniversary. capped with an outfield div- The team was rewarded with Rays 1-0. What an awesome “We have been in ing catch by Liam Bergeron tickets to go see the Toronto day for an awesome group of the old car hobby "grounding" any chance of a Blue Jays vs the Tampa Bay kids. Great season! since 1972. At comeback from Exeter. Essex Rays on Sept. 7. Thirty-two Congratulations to the Fred and Jennie Embree with their 1931 Model A Ford coupe. present, we own won 21-11. players and family members Essex Ram Rookie Travel our 1931 Model Although the Essex play- travelled to the Rogers 2008 Ontario Baseball A, a 1925 Model T Ford, a 1949 Chev 1/2 ton truck, and a 1964 Plymouth Valiant ers won all six of their games, Centre. The players were all Association Division D (American model), and we have all of them on the road in the summer. there were several intense dressed in their yellow game Champions: Kale Ambrose, “We belong to our own Cumberland Car Club and have a lot of fun going here and moments during the tourna- shirts and had big smiles on Liam Bergeron, Cale Cooper, there. It’s a lovely club with 80 to 90 members and we visit many different places with ment that the team had to their faces as they met some Jasper Drouillard, Sam our antique cars.” overcome, including having Blue Jay players and were Fenton, Noah Fuerth, Josh The Model A Ford was built from 1928 to 1931 and THE OLD CAR DETECTIVE to come from behind and able to get a couple of auto- Koning, Tanner Langlois, was powered by a flathead four-cylinder engine produc- IS SPONSORED BY rally with two outs in several graphs before the game. The Noah Lauzon, Daniel ing 40 horsepower from 200 cubic inches. The transmis- innings. Everything that the Yellow Jackets and other Mastroianni, Jessica sion was a three-speed floorshift affectionately known team worked on all year OBA champs from across MacPherson, Kade as a “crashbox” because it had no synchromesh and you seemed to come together at Ontario were welcomed onto McKibbon, Coaches Dan had to double-clutch while changing gears. the right time. All the players the outfield to parade across Drouillard, Pat Fuerth, Bill To keep the price down, it had no fuel pump and played their hearts out and the warning track. The kids Fenton and Grant Bergeron, relied upon gravity to bring the gasoline to the carbure- deserved their championship were waving to their gener- and Manager Carol Cooper. Your Security. tor from the fuel tank inside the cowl between the fire- rings. ous fans out there. Ontario Champs!!! Our Responsibility. wall and dashboard. The fuel filler cap was directly in In addition to Liam's catch, Once this was done, the front of the windshield. The Model A Ford was available in a variety of colours and body styles. The two-passenger business coupe had a Windsor factory list price of $585 and the 4-passenger sport coupe with rumble seat was $630. As a thank you, if your story is published in this col- umn you will receive a copy of Bill Sherk’s book “60 Years Behind the Wheel: The Cars We Drove in Canada 1900-1960”. To share your stories or photos e-mail [email protected] or write Bill Sherk, 33 Oak St. E., P.O. Box 10012, Leamington, ON N8H 2C3. 179 Talbot St. S., Essex (in Foodland Plaza) “Fine Wine by you” HOUSE WHITE & RED WINES www.StClairEstateWines.com 519-776-4794.