Mitch Calvert
There must be something in Barwick’s water that produces premiere fastball players.
The Blue Knights captured their second-straight Rainy River District Fastball League title this past summer, backed by the pitching of veteran George Oltsher, while his son, Trevor, recently was honoured with the Wayne Gilbert Memorial Award as top male player by Softball Manitoba.
Oltsher, 34, suited up for the Portage Shoppers Drug Mart Phillies, of the Winnipeg Fastball League, in the 2008 Western Canadian senior men’s open fastball championship in Brandon.
The Phillies won four of six games during the round-robin, including a 16-5 drubbing of the Thompson Buccaneers, where Oltsher went 4-for-5 with five RBI while also pitching a complete game.
The Regina Supreme ended up with the gold medal, including an 8-1 win over the Phillies, but Oltsher earned top hitter honours while also claiming a bronze medal with his squad.
“There’s not a lot of ball being played anymore, only one men’s team who went to the championships from here, but it’s still nice to be recognized,” Oltsher remarked from Winnipeg.
“We’re still trying to hold onto the league here, but it’s kind of dying out,” he admitted.
“That’s just the nature of the sport. Not many kids playing anymore with pitching being such a big deal, and it’s tough to have enough pitchers.”
Oltsher attended university in Winnipeg and now works for Manitoba Hydro, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots which began back on the diamond in Barwick.
“I played quite a bit in Barwick growing up, and it’s nice to see the Blue Knights doing well,” he enthused. “That’s one thing I didn’t get was a championship there that I remember. Maybe when I was really young.
“But I still go back there and play every now and then,” he added.
