Ontario Amateur Softball Assoc

Neil Cane was a much loved and respected member of this area’s sporting community. His athletic career included hockey, softball, baseball and high
school sports. Some of his accomplishments included winning multiple Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) championships and MVP of the Cobourg Mercantile Hockey League.

He was a well-respected coach, umpire and referee in many leagues throughout our region. Neil’s real calling in life became volunteering and working in the local sporting community. Under Neil’s leadership, while working at the Baltimore Recreation Complex, he helped improve it in many ways. Lights for the existing diamond were installed and more diamonds were added, as well as a basketball court, volleyball court, canteen and washroom facilities. Neil was instrumental in fundraising for two arena constructions and more, facilitating its development into a first-class facility.

Over the years, he was the recipient of many recognition awards, including the Cobourg Church Hockey League’s Outstanding Service Award, the Legion Minor Softball’s Certificate of Merit and Coach of the Year, the OASA’s Outstanding Service Award in 1995 and 1998, the Baltimore Arena Committee’s “Devotion of Duty” Award, the Cobourg Men’s Softball League’s “Thanks for the Memories” Award, and The Cobourg Rotary Club’s highest award, “The Paul Harris Fellowship”. In 2007, Neil was named Hamilton Township’s “Senior of the Year”. Neil’s legacy of volunteerism is exceptional. His enormous contributions to our sporting circles were truly extraordinary and his memory will be forever etched in the heart of his community.

Kenneth Wayne James Petrie was born in Stratford, Ontario, July 11, 1946. He moved to Cobourg in 1957, with his family. Ken unselfishly devoted much of his adult life to minor sports in Cobourg. These included the Cobourg Church Hockey League, the Legion Minor Softball Association and the Cobourg Baseball Association. At the age of 19, he was recruited by Layton Dodge to volunteer with the Cobourg Church Hockey League (CCHL) as an assistant coach. This began a lifelong tenure with the organization until they moved to the Cobourg Community Centre, in 2011.

Ken was a tireless worker acting as a coach, manager, trainer, fundraiser, bingo volunteer, executive member, committee member or just helping out wherever he could. Ken Petrie was the President of the Cobourg Church Hockey League a record 11 times and was named a Life Member. It is on record that Layton Dodge called Ken, “The driving force behind the CCHL”. Ken Petrie lived the CCHL motto, “Dedicated to our Youth”. Since the mid 1960’s, Ken’s teams had an amazing list of championships, claiming 10 provincial titles in minor sports. In 1967, Ken, along with Tom Savage, coached the Legion squirt Red Wings team to a provincial championship. It was Cobourg Legion Minor Softball’s first ever Provincial title.

Over Ken Petrie’s 50 plus years of volunteerism in Cobourg’s minor sports community, he was recognized with many certificates, citations, plaques and awards for service to his community. One of Ken’s associates noted that you didn’t mind helping him as he never asked anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself. Along with Ken's other achievements he found time to umpire, referee, timekeep and organize numerous tournaments. He was also involved in Provincial Women's Softball and coached several local Girls softball teams over the years. Ken was a quiet man who did his talking through his actions and no one did it better. Ken Petrie was a very special
volunteer and a true sportsman.

Layton Dodge was born in Cobourg on March 4, 1937, to parents, William and Kathleen. After high school, Layton joined the staff of the Cobourg Sentinel Star as sportswriter and publisher until his final column on October 8, 1996. In between, Layton covered most sports in Cobourg and the surrounding communities with love, diligence, integrity and honesty.

To say that the local sporting community was lucky to have him would be a gross understatement. Layton was the league and individual statistician for many local sporting groups including the Cobourg Community Hockey League, Legion Minor Softball, the Cobourg Mercantile Hockey League, the Cobourg Men's Softball League and the Cobourg Bowling League, to name just a few. Perhaps Layton's greatest quality was his understanding that sports meant as much to the house league player as it did to the all-star athlete.

To that end, Layton gave as much space on his sports pages to the house league games and players as he did to the rep teams and stars. He was the very best small-town sportswriter that you could ask for. Layton was recognized by many local organizations over the years for his outstanding contributions to their particular sport.

One of his proudest recognitions came from the Ontario Amateur Softball Association in 1987 when he was presented with the Frank Feaver Award as Ontario's “Mr. Softball”. Layton had a nickname that many of his friends and acquaintances used when referring to him. That name was “Scoop”. He never owned a car and rode his bicycle to almost all local sporting events.

He was never without his camera and notebook and always had a smile on his face and a positive remark to share. Simply put, “Layton was the BEST.