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Sooke Slo-Pitch Association vice-president moves on

Mike Gibson, Sooke Slo-Pitch Association president, leaving after 27 years of involvement in tourney
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Mike Gibson

The Sooke Slo-Pitch Association tournament, which ran from Aug. 4 to 6 in the Fred Milne park area, will be the last for association vice-president, Mike Gibson.

Gibson, now in his late 50s, is ready to pass on the torch after running the event for 27 years.

“Somebody else can do my job,” he said, adding it will be a bittersweet departure to leave the tight-knit Sooke slow pitch community.

And the feeling may be mutual, as Gibson was awarded two memorial trophies, the George Hovell and Larry Grunow, for his hard work and dedication.

The reason behind his resignation is simply age.

“I’m getting too old to play with the young people,” Gibson explained. “My reactions are not as good as what they used to be.”

His last year as vice-president of the association was marked with the introduction of a men’s division and the construction of parallel parking along Sooke River Road.

The parallel parking cost $2,000 to develop and had 67 cars parked per day on average. The cost and labour of the parking lot was borne by the association.

Gibson said the tournament, which saw 26 mixed teams and six men’s teams participate, was a success.

“The tournament went really well. Everybody had a good time, there were no problems in the beer garden, no problems on the playing field,” he said. “It’s a family event.”

Although his affiliation with the Sooke Slo-PItch Association will end, Gibson doesn’t intend to stop playing ball. He has plans to join the Victoria Men’s Masters Slopitch League for players aged 40 and up.

Standings for the tournament are listed below:

A division

First place: Gazoos

Second place: Jack Hammer

Third place: Team Works

Fourth place: Big Rock Masonry

B division

First place: Anything’s Possible

Second place: Hawks

Third place: Shattered Dreams

Fourth place: Crows

C division

First place: Wailers

Second place: Scared Hittless

Third place: Readers

Fourth place: Ash Souls

Men’s division

First place: K-9

Second place: Pemberton Holmes

Third place: Hammers

Fourth place: Foggers

Cash prizes ranged from $200 to $1,000 along with other material prizes.