Table of Contents
Topic/Item
Page
Hall of Fame Nomination Form
1
Glenn Verge brief introduction
2
How the ISC almost left Ontario for good!!
3-4
Years Coaching and Sponsoring
5
Words of Support for Glenn Verge
(Past ISC HOF inductees)
6
Letters of Reference
Garry Weston
Jamie Simpson
7
8
This is the patch we wear on all of our Owen Sound Uniforms
A brief introduction to Glenn Verge
Glenn Verge has been associated with fastball for
almost six decades. He has coached, managed, and
sponsored teams for over 45 years. With the loving support
of his wife Patricia for 44 years (passed away in 2011), he
travelled the continent sharing his love of the sport and being
its biggest advocate. In 1978, Carrol Forbes and Lloyd
Simpson met up with Glenn to try and persuade him of the
“new” fastball tournament that was beginning to make its
mark in Canada, especially the province of Ontario.
Vergy (as he is still called today) immediately embraced
the tournament and never left. In 1979, he took his
Newmarket Rays team to the tournament and has been
coaching and sponsoring teams ever since. His most
recent teams have included the Owen Sound Selects and
the Owen Sound U21 Junior Selects.
The following package will give you a little insight into
Glenn, his accomplishments, his on-going journey in fastball,
his admiration by his players and friends, and how he quietly
saved ISC ball in Ontario. I hope you will see how deserving
his is to be part of the ISC Hall of Fame.
How the ISC almost left Ontario!!
In 1980, the ISC World Championships were held in Temp,
Arizona. Two Ontario, Canada teams competed in the prestigious
tournament. The Grimsby Peach Kings who finished 3rd and the
Newmarket Rays. Upon returning to Canada, both teams found
themselves in a fastball political nightmare.
Two major fastball governing bodies, the OASA (Ontario
Amateur Softball Association) and CASA (Canadian Amateur Softball
Association) imposed a ruling that would affect future ISC bound
teams and teams that had competed in the previous year’s
tournament. Many coaches and players (some who would end up
playing in the ISC Worlds in future years) protested that the
players on the teams who participated in the ISC World Tournament
should not be allowed to play in the OASA (Provincial
Championships) and Canadian Championships.
The end result was that all players, coaches, and members of
the Grimsby Peach Kings and Newmarket Rays were suspended
from playing in the tournaments in Ontario and National
Championships. Any team that wanted to attend the ISC tournament
would be suspended as well. Here is where the unknown heroics of
Glenn Verge stepped in!
Glenn met with several members of the Ontario and Canadian
organizations with no solution! He had enough so he met with
lawyers from St. Catherines and pressed his case. He went to the
highest MPP Conservative Authority of Sports Administration in the
province. After spending some time in the courts and going over
human rights issues, the suspensions were lifted. Teams were able
to participate in the ISC World Tournament without any
consequences provincially or nationally.
The time and effort of Glenn Verge has continued to pay
dividends. Ontario has been the home to the ISC Champion Toronto
Gators, Jarvis Gamblers, and Kitchener Twins. Several teams have
won the ISC Crown in recent years too. With over 5 ISC World
Tournaments hosted in Canada and a sixth one on its way, you can
help to think that a part of it is due to Glenn.
Years Sponsoring and Coaching as Part of the ISC
Newmarket Rays and Owen Sound Verge Selects at the ISC
tournament
1979: Newmarket Rays
1980: Newmarket Rays
1981: Newmarket Rays
1982: Newmarket Rays
1983: Coached with Owen Sound King Farms at the World
Tournament
1984-1990 Participated in ISC Travel League and attended
tournaments with Owen Sound King Farms and Owen Sound
Canadian Tire Fastball Teams
1991: Owen Sound Selects :NOTE: Thrilling 2nd place finish
1992: Owen Sound Selects
1993: Owen Sound Selects
1994: Owen Sound Selects
1995: Owen Sound Selects
1996: Owen Sound Selects
1997: Owen Sound Selects
1998: Owen Sound Selects
1999 Owen Sound Selects
2000 Owen Sound Selects
2001: Owen Sound Selects
2002: Owen Sound Selects
2003: Owen Sound Selects
2009: Owen Sound Selects
2010: Owen Sound Selects
2011: Owen Sound Selects
2012: Owen Sound Junior Selects (Finished 2nd at U21 World
Tournament)
Extra Notes:
1983: Appointed the ISC Eastern Canada Travel League
Commissioner. The next year, he stepped down and Bob Minshall
took over the duties
Words of Support for Glenn Verge
2000 ISC Hall of Fame Inductee: Bob Minshall---Top notch Umpire
and Facilitator
What managers/coaches (current or past) do you think are a cut
above others? Why?
Answer: "Two managers/coaches stood out in my mind and they
were Glen Verge of Newmarket, Ontario and Rod Peterson of
Madison WI. These two men were very approachable and had
complete control of their teams on and off the diamond. I had very
little personal contact with team officials in my career as I thought it
best to keep to myself and concentrate on umpiring."
Larry Bodashefsky
Born: May 9, 1956
Home: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
(2007 HOP Inductee)
Nobody wanted to win and promote the I.S.C. World Tournament
more than Glen Verge of Newmarket and Bill Simpson of Owen
Sound. I owe so much to Glen Verge. He coached and or managed
me in Newmarket, Oshawa, and Owen Sound. He created an
atmosphere that demanded a commitment to excellence. He led by
example with his hard work and love for the game. Glen drove and
maintained our bus in Newmarket, recruited and signed players,
raised money, donated money. You name it he did it. I wanted to win
more for Glen than for myself. Once I asked Glen if I could miss a
tournament to be my brother’s best man in his wedding. Glen replied,
“Death in the family is the only acceptable reason”. My wife still
reminds me of a few weddings I missed.