RRDFL hands out awards

The Rainy River District Fastball League held its 43rd-annual awards banquet Friday evening at the Rainy River Legion.
About 60 people turned out to honour the league’s best and the 2007 inductees to the RRDFL’s Hall of Fame.
RRDFL vice-president Tom Vandenbrand presented the league championship trophy to Sight & Sound’s Derek McKinnon. Then he presented George Oltsher and several teammates from the Barwick Blue Knights with the playoff championship trophy.
Jessie Tom of Big Island was saluted as the Home Run King this past season with 11 while Luke Desserre (Stratton) capture rookie-of-the-year honours.
Other winners included Vaughn Wilson of Barwick (Shane Jarvis Memorial Sportsmanship Award), Bob Andy of Sight & Sound (Gerry Harasymyk Memorial MVP Award), and Guy Arpin of Rainy River (Umpires Choice Kingsley Downs/Gus Lindberg Memorial Award).
The 2007 Hall of Fame inductees included:
•George Thompson
The late George Thompson began his fastball career when the league started up in 1963. He was described as a “character” playing in his Kodiak
work boots, rarely in a uniform, and without a glove, as a pitcher.
Was known to pitch four games in a day, and be as energetic at the end of the day as he was in the beginning.
He played mainly for Rainy River Legion teams, and ended his career in 1977 or ’78 for health-related reasons.
He did play briefly for the Bergland and Pinewood Cubs, and he was on two championship teams.
Accepting the award posthumously on his behalf were his sons, Billy and John Thompson, and daughter, Margaret King.
•Gary Armstrong Sr.
Gary (“Cowboy”) Armstrong Sr. also started pitching in 1963. He played for the R.R. Legion, R.R. Hotel, R.R. Esso, R.R. Huskies, and the Baudette Legion.
He was a very good pitcher, as well as a first baseman and a hitter. He made the all-star team in 1982, ’83, and ’86 and won many league titles, including Home Run King.
Accepting the award on behalf of Armstrong, who was unable to attend, was his son-in-law, Jim Chorney.
•Fred Foulger
Fred Foulger spent his entire career playing for the Rainy River Huskies. He was an all-star in 1978, ’79, and ’80.
He was very fast in the outfield and a good hitter; hitting consistently around a .400 average even though he never hit a home run.
One of the few times Foulger struck out was when George Oltsher pitched one behind his back.
Oltsher told Foulger to come up there again as it did not count because it was an illegal pitch, but he replied, “Nope, you got me.”
Accepting the award on Foulger’s behalf (who was unable to attend) was Peanut Arnould.