St. Mary’s Park concludes baseball season with tournament

by Garrett Fodor 

This past weekend, St. Mary’s Park celebrated the end of another successful baseball season with the annual closing tournament, which was held on Saturday, September 8 at Co-An Park in McGregor.

  This year’s tournament featured 20 adult teams in the slo-pitch league, with 10 in the male division and 10 in the female division. It marked the 39th time the tournament has been played, and closed the season, which had over 600 people play at St. Mary’s Park.

  Shaun Fuerth is the Vice Chairperson for St. Mary’s baseball and was the manager for a team in the league. He said this league is something that brings everyone together.

  “This is something we have been working towards all year, trying to get everyone out to have a fun day,” Fuerth said. “It’s a rec league and it is all about having fun first, with a meal at the end of the day with everyone. There is a lot of tradition here at St Mary’s Park, and, next year, we celebrate 40 years of baseball.”

  Despite the cold weather and many players wearing sweaters instead of jerseys, the team spirt and sportsmanship was on display throughout the weekend.

  Jean Dumochelle is a Director of St. Mary’s Baseball and coaches a team in the women’s division. She said the family aspect of the tournament, and St. Mary’s baseball as a whole, keeps people coming back and the tournament growing.

  “I have been involved since my kids were five-years-old and they started playing ball at St. Mary’s park. I was already playing ball then, but became involved as a coach as well,” Dumochelle said. “It is so great in Maidstone because everyone can be involved no matter what level of baseball they can play [at] or if they have physical disabilities. This is a community event and it is wonderful to be together and be playing in opposition with your friends and on the same team as your friends, which is why you can hear the laughter between teams.”

  The tournament concluded Sunday with the men’s finals being played “At the Corner.” Fuerth said that they are always looking for new members to join St. Mary’s baseball with registration happening in February of each year.