MOST VALUABLE PLAYER — JIM SENAY !

Jim Senay enjoyed a stellar season in 2007. Jimmy led the team in batting with an amazing .871 BA during the regular season. He narrowly missed eclipsing the all-time club batting average record of .878.  That record was established by Marvin Toma, way back in 1989. Jim captured the second batting crown of his Veteran's career. He was also the club's tournament batting leader, along with Ryan Taylor, with a .833 average. Above photo shows Jim displaying his award for being voted the Vets 'Most Valuable Player' in the 2007 Year-End Tournament.

October 19

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST !

Tammy Daly traded in her jersey for a wedding dress. Tammy got hitched to husband Frank, on September 15th. The new bride would like to assure her team-mates that she will be back in uniform for the 2008 softball season.  Best wishes — Frank & Tammy!

October 19

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS !

Veteran players celebrating birthdays in November: Paul Wuttunee — November 5, Nancy McCabe — November 10, Jane Senay — November 27.

August 31

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS !

Veteran players celebrating birthdays in September: Doug McDonald — September 15th, Shelley Richardson — September 24th.

August 12

'PLAYER OF THE GAME' !
After each regular season game, the Vets award the 'Player of the Game' with a special beer glass. Thanks to Elco Alumnus Laine Garland, for donating the 'Player of the Game' prizes to the club.
Game 1 — Fred Hawkshaw	Game     9 — Jane Senay, Shelley Richardson
Game 2 — Geoff Richardson	Game   10 — Tanis Sawtell, Sophie Gray
Game 3 — Ryan Taylor	Game   11 — Sharleen Jackson
Game 4 — Anita Hutchison, Jim Senay	Game   12 — Carolyn Mount
Game 5 — Dan Gray	Game   13 — Darcy Grendus
Game 6 — None	Game   14 — Carolyn Mount, Jim Senay
Game 7 — Doug McDonald	Game   15 — Sharleen Jackson, Ryan Taylor
Game 8 — Doug Walls	Game   16 — Tanis Sawtell, Doug Walls

July 28

MR. GRAY !

More sad news. Veterans Dan Gray's father — Dave Gray has passed away at the age of eighty-five. On behalf of the Veterans Softball Club we extend our condolences to the Gray family on the passing of Dave Gray. Published in the Vancouver Sun & Province on 7/10/2007 Gray, David Ewart GRAY _ David Ewart of Vancouver, B.C. passed away peacefully on 8 July, 2007 aged 85. Husband of Flora (McIntyre), father of Kathleen, Dan, Lorraine and Eileen, father-in-law of Steve, Leslie, Lorne (dec.) and John, grandfather to Zoe, Jessie, Eleanor, Emily, Sophie and Carolyn, and uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was born in Kinross, Scotland to Mary (Ewart) and James Gray and brought to Canada as an infant with his sisters Mima and Barbara. He attended Vancouver Technical School, served in the RCAF in Europe in World War II, and worked for the B.C. Telephone Company for over 40 years. Private family arrangements in lieu of a funeral service. No flowers please, but donations to any charity would be appreciated.

June 30

KUDOS TO THE IRONMAN !

The only recorded triple play in club history occurred on June 29, 1983. Laine Garland (nee Grendus) performed this miraculous feat unassisted, while playing for the Elco Softball Club. She still has the game ball from that memorable event, autographed by her team-mates. This, once in a lifetime event, almost happened again during the Veterans last game against the Beer Nuts. How the play unfolded. The Beer Nuts had runners on first and second base with nobody out. A line drive was hit up the middle of the infield. From the pitcher's perspective, a sure base hit. Somehow, 2nd Baseman Doug Walls, stretched and snagged the ball for the out. The runners, believing the batted ball was going through the infield, began to advance. Doug 'Ironman' Walls tagged 2nd base to record a force out at second base, then turned and threw to first base. Unfortunately, the runner at first base made a hasty retreat back to the base, and avoided an out by half a step. Note: When Dougie caught the ball and stepped on 2nd base I truly believed the team would be autographing the softball at games end, as the second triple play in club history. It was a damn fine play and earned the Ironman — "Player of the Game' honours.

June 30

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS !

Veteran players celebrating birthdays in July: Geoff Richardson — July 8th, Ed Falys — July 10th, Doug Walls — July 18th.

June 24

CRAIG RISTOCK — ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS !

Very sad news. Ex-Elco & Veterans player Craig Ristock has passed away at the age of fifty. On behalf of the Veterans Softball Club we extend our condolences to the Ristock family on the passing of Craig. Craig was a member of our softball team from 1987 to 1995. In 1991, Craig led our team to its first ever championship, as well as claiming the batting title, with an amazing .862 batting average. Those of us that knew him remember Craig as a great ball player and 'one heck of a nice guy'. We were all shocked by the news of his illness and recent passing. Unfortunately, in life, bad things happen to good people. And Craig was one of the best! He certainly will be missed. from Vancouver Sun newspaper — June 23, 2007 Craig Robert Ristock RISTOCK _ Craig Robert Born December 15th, 1956. With great sorrow we announce that Craig passed away peacefully in the arms of his loving and adoring wife, Kristine, on June 21, 2007 after a brief but very dignified struggle with cancer. Craig is survived by their children, Pete (Christina), Jeff and Laura, and also their 3 grandchildren, Peter, Mark and Madison. He is also survived by his Dad, Paul, his brother Cory, his sister Tracy (Ian), nephew Danny, niece Natalie and his sister-in-law Alexandria (Sam) Sharma. He was predeceased by his Mom, Eleanor and by his father-in-law, Fred Cresswell, mother-in-law, Agnes and sister-in-law Marion deWit. Craig spent his final days at Shirley Dean Pavilion. His family wish to express their special thanks to all the staff. In celebration of Craig's life we welcome family and friends to attend St. Luke Lutheran Church, 10177-148 St., Surrey at 3:00pm on June 26, 2007. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the B.C. Cancer foundation. This wonderful man touched many lives and he will be deeply missed!

June 8

THANKS ED !

The cartoonish Vets player (left) and the Veterans logo (below) used to grace the home page of the Veterans website. Both were removed when the site was upgraded last season. As they were replaced when the Vets new format was introduced, I wanted them to be recorded as a reminder of the Club's illustrious past. Both were created by 3rd baseman Ed Falys. Many thanks!

May 31

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS !

Veteran players celebrating birthdays in June: Fred Hawkshaw — June 28th, Darcy Grendus — June 30th.

May 31

DANNY IN SICK BAY !

Dan Gray may have played his last game of the season. Dan is scheduled for a hernia surgery today. The team wishes Dan a speedy recovery and hopes to see him back on the field very soon. What is a Hernia? A hernia (rupture) is usually noticed as a lump, commonly in the groin or the umbilical region. It appears when a portion of the tissue which lines the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) breaks through a weakened area of the abdominal wall. This can give rise to discomfort as the hernia enlarges and can sometimes be dangerous if a piece of intestine becomes trapped ('strangulated') inside. There is almost no limit to how BIG a hernia could get if left untreated! Dan went out on a high note in the Vet's victory against the MadBatters yesterday. He claimed 'Player of the Game' honours, going 3-for-3 at the plate, which included a double, a run scored and the game-winning RBI.

May 27

FROZEN IN TIME !

This image was taken in July 1980. Ed Falys had just swung at a pitch — and the resulting hit ball ended up landing high onto the roof of a school building in deep left field. The faces on Eddy's teammates here speak for themselves. In this 'reaction shot' shows (L to R) coach Darcy Grendus (1) with his ever present scorebook, next to his soon to be wife Patti (2). Doug Walls (3) and wife, Brenda (4) did not play for the GAFFERS in 1980, but had come out to watch the game. Sadly, this homerun by Falys will be forever lost in the mists of time. There is no record of this HR in the club's Record Book. Most of the scorebooks from the 80's were not kept from year to year. Who knew at the time that the GAFFERS/ELCO/VETERANS would still be playing 27 years later? NOTE: The poor quality of this photo is because it's a single frame of poor Super-8 film footage. The entire short bit of film will eventually make its way onto the Veterans site in the near future.

May 27

FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON !

A few photos of the Veteran's first victory of the season on May 23rd at Gordon Park. Final Score — Beer Nuts 9, Veterans 13. Use scroll buttons to view all images.

May 20

SHE CAME, SHE SAW, SHE LEFT !

After only playing one game, B.B. announced she was leaving the Veterans Softball Club. Due to family commitments, she would not be able to attend games for the balance of the season. She regrets having to make this decision, but passes on her best wishes to everyone on the team. With B.'s permission, Manager Darcy Grendus will continue to keep her on the team roster. B.'s schedule may allow her to be available for the Year-End Tournament in August. Although we knew her for only a short time, she will be missed.  Best of luck in the future B.! Footnote: With only one game played B.B. did set a team record. She had the longest name of any person that ever played with the Veterans.

May 16

2007 SPRING TRAINING !
2007 Spring Training held April 15th at Renfrew Park — Manager Darcy Grendus photographed with: Left — Third Baseman Ed Falys preparing for his 29th consecutive season with the club. Right — The 2007 season will be Shortstop Jim Senay's 12th campaign with the Veterans.

May 11

THE IRONMAN !

Like the Energizer Rabbit, Doug Walls just keeps going, and going, and going. Approaching 70 years of age, Doug is, and has been, an inspiration to his team-mates. His enthusiasm for the game has not diminished over the years. The 'Ironman' stated that entering the 2007 campaign he feels fitter, and in better condition, than the previous ten seasons. The photo shown here was taken during the Veterans exhibition game against the Beer Nuts — April 22nd. A week earlier, at the Vets first Spring Training session, the Ironman hit an mammoth homer that had on-lookers "oohing and awing". We all wish Dougie the best for the upcoming season.

April 29

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS !

Veteran players celebrating birthdays in May: Jim Senay — May 12th.

April 1

SCOUTING REPORT !

After learning that Tammy Daly and Michelle Connell would not be returning for the 2007 season it was left to Manager Darcy Grendus to find some new female talent. Darcy had the opportunity to contact outfielder Paul Wuttunee's wife, Trish. Although Trish could not commit to playing she did deliver this priceless quote: I can't run, catch or throw, but I've seen Al play. I guess those skills aren't mandatory. No, I won't be joining the team — but I'll be around to cheer. Thanks for the invitation. Although Trish has opted out, we do have three prospective players attending Spring Training — B. B., Michelle Cooke, & Kim ?? Message from Tammy Daly: Yes, I'm planning on returning for Spring 2008........so keep your grubby hands off of my jersey!

March 31

INNER CIRCLE !

The Vets 'Inner Circle' met up earlier this year to discuss plans for the upcoming 2007 softball season. Here they are with the 2006 VRSL MatBall-Rec Championship trophy. From left to right are: Dan Gray, Doug 'Ironman' Walls, Al Jackson (Coach), Darcy Grendus (Manager), and Ed Falys. With the exception of Al Jackson (1981) — the Inner Circle members have all played with the Veterans Softball Club since their inaugural season in 1979.

March 30

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS !

Veteran players celebrating birthdays in April: Tanis Sawtell — April 4th,  Ryan Taylor — April 4th,  Al Jackson — April 9th.

March 1

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS !

Veteran players celebrating birthdays in March: Carolyn Mount — March 12th,  Dan Gray — March 30th.

February 25

2007 SEASON UPDATE !

EXTRA INNINGS CLUB Some good news to report. The Veterans have found a new 'Extra Innings Club' venue for 2007. As you know our current EIC (Eldorado Hotel lounge) was closed recently — never to re-open. Our new post-game meeting spot will be the 'Cedar Cottage Pub' in Vancouver. 3728 Clark Drive - one block west of Kingsway & Knight St. It's clean, spacious, and has an outdoor patio. We're sure the Vets will enjoy this new location. Our first Extra Innings Club meeting will be held there — Thursday, March 15th - 7:00 pm. PLAYER FEE DEADLINE — (March 15) Early Bird registration closes on March 15th. If you pay your player fee by this date - $50.00 After March 15 — player fee will be $60.00. If you want to take advantage of the Early Bird registration fee: Pay at the Extra Innings Club on March 15th. or send cheque to: Darcy Grendus 302-2260 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6K 1H9 'TOP TEN' INCENTIVE PROGRAM New for this season. The Veterans are introducing a player incentive program. This is being introduced to encourage & reward players that attend the majority of games throughout the regular season. Plus, it also rewards players who show their team spirit and attend post-game celebrations at the EIC. This is how it works. Player receive 2 points for each game they play during the regular season. One point is awarded for attending the post-game festivities at the Extra Innings Club. Gold - Top 3 players in points receive $12.00 player fee rebate. Silver - Next 3 players in points receive $8.00 player fee rebate. Bronze - Next 4 players in points receive $5.00 player fee rebate. Wildcard - Any player not in the Top 10 will be eligible for $5.00 player fee rebate. (Random draw) Total pot = $85.00. This scheme is being introduced as an incentive to all players to encourage their participation. The Top Ten program is a way of returning a portion of team fees back to the players & have a bit of fun at the same time.

February 17

RETURNING VETS !

Player contracts were emailed to all Veteran players on Jan 29th. The following 2007 player statuses are listed below: 2006 PLAYER STATUS  PLAYER  Reply Returning     PLAYER  Reply Returning  Michelle Connell  Feb 04 No     Randy Morawski  Feb 01 Yes  Tammy Daly  Jan 13 No     Carolyn Mount  Feb 13 Yes  Ed Falys  Jan 29 Yes     Geoff Richardson  Jan 29 Yes  Dan Gray  Jan 29 Yes     Shelley Richardson  Jan 29 Yes  Darcy Grendus  Jan 29 Yes     Tanis Sawtell  Jan 29 Yes  Fred Hawkshaw  Jan 29 Yes     Jane Senay  Feb 07 Yes  Al Jackson  Jan 29 Yes     Jim Senay  Feb 07 Yes  Sharleen Jackson  Jan 29 Yes     Ryan Taylor  Feb 04 Yes  Leigh Jerstad — SK  Feb 06 Yes     Doug Walls  Jan 30 Yes  Nancy McCabe   Status uncertain     Paul Wuttunee  Feb 16 Yes  Doug McDonald  Feb 12 Yes

February 11

MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE !

An audit of the 1994 Elco Veterans scorebook has unearthed a slight, but important oversight. It appears that Sean McCabe was unintentionally robbed of the 1994 regular season batting title. It was originally reported that Sean completed the year with a .714 batting average. (AB = 35, H = 25) The Vets are pleased to announce that Sean actually had 26 hits in 35 at-bats to finish the season with a .743 batting average. Thus, he surpassed George Postnikoff's batting average of .741, by two percentage points, to win the 1994 Batting Crown. Congratulations Sean !   Sorry it took this long.

February 1

ILLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR !

Darcy Grendus — Manager of the Veterans Softball Club has been elected to the position of President of the Vancouver Recreational Softball League. Not to fear! His first priority is to the Vets. Being VRSL President has its perks though. The Veterans will receive a discounted team registration fee with Darcy on the executive.

January 29

PLAYER PARTICIPATION !

Believe it or not, the new softball season is only 3 months away. After last year's championship season, it would be nice to repeat in 2007. Your participation would be most appreciated. We wish to hear from Veterans players! Are you planning to return for the upcoming season? The sooner we can confirm our line-up, the sooner we can begin planning for the new season. As you know, we may not have Nancy McCabe on the active roster, due to health issues. Plus, Tammy Daly has stated she is unavailable this season, due to work & wedding planning. Confirm your plans to return in 2007!  (Contact Al Jackson or Darcy Grendus as soon as possible) Extra Innings Club The Veterans 'Inner Circle' - Al Jackson, Ed Falys, Dan Gray, Doug Walls & Darcy Grendus are currently looking for a new location for the Extra Innings Club. We recently learned that the Eldorado Hotel Lounge has been permanently closed. The next Extra Innings Club meeting will be held: Thursday, March 15th. Location to be announced. Player Fees The Player Fees for the 2007 season are as follows: $50.00 — due by March 15, 2007. $60.00 — received after March 15. If you are unable to attend the Extra Innings Club meeting on March 15th send your player fee to: Darcy Grendus 302-2260 West 2nd Avenue Vancouver, BC V6K 1H9 Should you have any questions or concerns - please let us know!! Looking forward to a great season.

January 26

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS !

Veteran players celebrating birthdays in February: Sharleen Jackson — February 20th.

January 6

GOIN' TO THE CHAPEL !

Congratulations to Trish and Paul Wuttunee on their recent wedding.  Photos — courtesy of Trish & Paul Wuttunee — September 23, 2006  Wedding guest & Paul's team-mate, Al Jackson, looking for a free drink at the bar.

January 4

EXTRA INNINGS CLUB !

The Veterans Softball Club is planning another get-together. Where — Extra Innings Club (aka Eldorado Hotel Lounge) When — Thursday, Jan 11th at 7 pm. Have your photo taken with our league championship trophy and pick up your official VRSL cap. Plus the Canucks are on the big screen versus the Minnesota Wild.   Hope to see you there!