Gallagher: Bantam from Whitby shines at EOBA AGM

Whitby's Andrew Gordon, right, accepts the award for Rep pitcher of the year in the bantam-and-above age group. M.C. Todd Denault made the presentation. Photo: Danny Gallagher

November 25, 2024

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Looking dapper in his suit and fedora, Andrew Gordon stood out for his sartorial elegance at the annual General Meeting of the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association on Saturday.

Gordon (Whitby, Ont.) was awarded the Rep pitcher-of-the-year award for his 2024 performance in the bantam-and-above age group.

He was spectacular during the regular season with an ERA of 1.23 in 20 games and his exploits prompted the Barrie Baycats to pick him up for the Canadian national Bantam 15U championship held in Laval, Que., in August.

“It’s awesome,’’ Gordon said of the award. “I had a pretty good season. At the nationals, I pitched two games and didn’t give up a run.’’

B.C. beat Alberta 2-0 to capture the tournament championship but Gordon’s performance sure stood out. Keep an eye on him in the future.

“If I could use him every game, I would. He was great,’’ said Gordon’s coach Jeff Canning.

Brian MacIntyre (Whitby, Ont.) was re-elected to another term as EOBA president at the AGM attended by about 100 people at the Oshawa Shrine Club.

The meeting featured stellar master of ceremonies Todd Denault of Cobourg, an EOBA past president, and yours truly was the guest speaker, talking about my time as a player and organizer and writing stories and books about the Expos.

There were so many great people honoured, including teenager Pierson Thorburn of Clarington, who was announced as the Senior Umpire of the Year (Level 3 and higher).

“He umpired 115 games,’’ an impressed Denault told the stunned crowd about Thorburn.

Re-elected EOBA president Brian MacIntyre of Whitby, right, listens as life member Jim Lutton, 88, of Oshawa makes a point. Photo: Danny Gallagher

Jim Lutton, 88, Oshawa’s Mr. Baseball, was kept busy, taking photos of all of the award winners to be posted on the EOBA website. Lutton was taking photos with his new smartphone that folds in half. People, including me, were astonished that such a phone is now in existence.

Following are the award winners:

Rep. Junior Player of the Year (Peewee and below)

Cooper Wannamaker (Quinte)

Rep. Senior Player of the Year (Bantam and above)

Cole Gauthier (Ajax)

House League Player of the Year (Peewee and below)

Sam Adams-Himsl (Whitby)

House League Player of the Year (Bantam and above)

Liam Breton (Whitby)

Rep Pitcher of the Year (Peewee and below)

Christopher Deslauriers (Whitby)

Rep Pitcher of the Year (Bantam and above)

Andrew Gordon (Whitby)

True Spirit (given to a female HL player, Major Mosquito age and up)

Samantha Renco (Whitby)

Female Rep. Player of the Year (Mosquito and above)

Ashlynn Jolicoeur (Whitby)

Junior Umpire of the Year (Level 1 & 2)

Daniel Garey (Whitby)

Senior Umpire of the Year (Level 3 or above)

Pierson Thorburn (Clarington)

Rep. Junior Coach of the Year (Peewee and below)

Scott Robinson (Whitby)

Rep. Senior Coach of the Year (Bantam and above)

Mark Takahashi (Whitby)

House League Coach of the Year (Peewee and below)

Adam De Vos (Pickering)

House League Coach of the Year (Bantam and above)

Atul Jain (Whitby)

Team of the Year (All Series)

Whitby 13U AAA

Troy May Person of the Year

Ryan Smith (Whitby)

Ed and Vi Christopher Award (House League Volunteer of the Year)

Cherri Johnston (Clarington)

W.J. Woodland Award (Rep Volunteer of the Year)

Lisa Giblin (Pickering)

EOBA Volunteer of the Year

Bill Rourke (Whitby)

EOBA Association of the Year

Whitby