Back Row: left to right – Ernie Uniat, Brad Dewhirst, Gerry Peters, Bruce Marshall, Clint Marshall, 
Don Berger, Rick Norman,Glen Jevne, Dean Furuness, Bob Baker, Ron Shantz, Leonard Chanasyk 
Front Row: left to right – Haward Nichols, Ron Rogers, Grahan Kiebke, Don Harrison (Mgr), 
Al Arner (Coach),  Ron Winteringham (Trainer), Graig Gunther. 

Representing Wetaskiwin at Canadian Championships

In 1975 the Wetaskiwin Sports Shop Junior Fastball team, coached by Al Arner and Don Harrison, won the Provincial Championships.  They also represented Alberta at the Canadian Junior Fastball Championships where they narrowly lost the final game and were awarded the Silver Medal.  Because of their achievements and the sportsmanship they displayed, the Sport Shop Juniors are being inducted into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame.

Nucleus of Team Put Together in 1969 

The nucleus of this team was first put together in 1969 when the players were at the Bantam level.  They were coached by Terry Grimm and because there was no sponsor, team uniforms were blue jeans and white t-shirts.  In their first year together this unassuming team of young players won the Provincial Championship.  This feat was duplicated the following year at the Midget Level with coaches Pat Barry and Gerry Green.  They were sponsored by the Sport Shop and looked sharp in their new uniforms.  In their second year as Midgets, Al Arner furthered his involvement with the team and in addition to sponsoring them, he coached as well. 

Coach Poked Holes in Tennis Balls

Al had his own innovative ways to help the players improve their skills. The team started practicing in February in the Wetaskiwin Drill Hall.  Batting practice consisted of trying to hit a ball on a string swung from a hockey stick.  The pitching machine was a little less bizarre, however as Al added his own twist by poking holes into tennis balls to make them curve or drop.  With dedicated practice this team had it all: good pitching, strong batting and fast base running.  In 1973 they dominated the Men’s League so completely that to even things up Sport Shop pitchers would rotate through the men’s teams to help them out and make the league more competitive.

Al remained as coach with this group through the Midget, Juvenile and Junior levels until 1975, leading them to Provincial Championships each year.  In 1974 Al entered the now junior-aged team in the Senior Men’s Intermediate “A” Provincials.  Despite their age and experience disadvantage, they still walked away with a Silver Medal.  This led to the pinnacle of their success the next year (1975) when they vied for the title as the best Junior Fastball team in Canada. To advance to the Canadian Championships, the 1975 team was required to play in the Alberta Junior “A” Elimination Tournament.  They went through the six team double elimination tournament undefeated and in the process of becoming Alberta’s representative, defeated the Beauvallun Aces, the 1974 Alberta representatives.