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While the dictionary defines “ambassador as a “representative” or “promotor,” in Pat Hall’s case ambassador means a-person-a-sport-could-not-do-without. The sports of field hockey and softball have been played for generations, but without Pat Hall, these two sports would not have thrived in this province to produce the top-quality athletes the way they have today.
Pat began by playing field hockey and was an active player in the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association (VILFHA) for 27 years, from 1961 through 1988. She began coaching in 1970 and umpiring in 1973, co-founding the South Island Field Hockey Umpires Association in 1988. Although retiring as an umpire in 2000, Pat continues to this day to coach teams in various divisions.
Pat’s list of contributions is endless! In addition to her many years as player, coach and umpire, Pat served on the executive of the VILFHA for over 40 years. She has been Victoria or BC representative with Field Hockey BC, Field Hockey Canada, the South Island Umpires Association and the Victoria Junior Field Hockey Association.
Pat has received numerous awards over the years. She was honoured four times with VILFHA’s most prestigious award, the Christine Trophy, for combining sportsmanship, service and playing ability. She was also honoured by Field Hockey BC with their Barbara Schrodt Award for those who have made a difference, the Gold Pin Volunteer Award and Sport BC President’s Award. In 1983, Pat was named Victoria Sports Person of the Year. In 1993, she was awarded with VILFHA Life Membership and, in 2013, the VILFHA introduced the Pat Hall Officials Development Award.
Her contributions to softball are almost as numerous. She started in 1960 with Stuffy McGinnis as scorekeeper for the Independent Athletics Association softball league at MacDonald Park. By 1963, she was scorekeeper, announcer and statistician for the league. In 1975, when the league moved to Central Park to amalgamate with the Victoria Major Men’s League, Pat became President of the newly-formed league and served in that position until 1993. She helped draw up the new constitution for the MacDonald Park Men’s Softball League in 1995.
From 1986 through 2006, Pat was Senior Coordinator, District 1 for Softball BC, organizing men’s, women’s and mixed district and provincial tournaments in Victoria or Duncan. She continued to hold various executive positions with MacDonald Park until retiring from softball in 2010.
A dedicated mom, Pat was scorekeeper for the Maverick Men’s Baseball League as her son, Marty, played. She now takes pride in watching her grandson, Tyrus, compete in baseball, soccer, basketball and track and her granddaughter, Taleesha, compete in volleyball and track.
Pat has spent a lifetime as a volunteer dedicated to ensuring the sports of softball and field hockey were strong administratively and competitively in this province. She has the ability to not only celebrate the past but encourage those following in her footsteps to challenge the future. She is a unique individual who has passed on her knowledge and expertise and, in doing so, created a legacy that continues to this day.
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Joanne Mick took up softball as a catcher in Bullen Park, Esquimalt with the Colwood and District Softball Association. It was a time when woman’s sports news was barely a blip on any radar.
Her softball journey began in 1964 when her friend, Brenda Green, wanted to play softball. Their fathers, “Smokey” Green and Paul Mick, coached that first pitcher-catcher combo with Brenda pitching and Joanne catching. The first year, they lost all but the final league game, but that win lit Joanne’s competitive flame!
In 1973, she formed a new combo with pitcher Rosemary Fuller under coach Walter Yeamans. The duo caught the eye of coach Adrian Lavigne who courted the duo for the 1974 National Championship. Both joined the team and won their first National Title that year. Recognizing the outstanding organization of Coach Adrian Lavigne teams (first called the Green & Louie Realtors, then DOC's Blues, and Alpha Sports) they stayed with him for the balance of their careers.
Patty Polych joined the squad in 1980 and, like Rose, loved to pitch, train, practice and learn the tools of the strikeout. The duo of Rose and Joanne started a new era, winning both Provincial and National Championships. Joanne played in two World Women's Softball Championships in 1982 and 1986. Highlights included winning the famed Warren Paine Umpires' Tournament in 1984 and 1985 in Texas, as well as a victory against the Raybestos Brakettes.
If Rose and Patty were the pitching stars, Diane Materi, Tracy Huclack, and others were just as capable to strike out batters. “Their pitching talent was awesome,” said Joanne. “But I loved their other positions more. They were outstanding in their field – right, left and centre.”
Joanne’s motto of “Have glove will travel” was coined with early pickup roles. She coached all pitchers when requested, relaying observations and encouragement, catching what was thrown. That glove proved to be a plane ticket to travel to the world’s best softball tournaments. Joanne played in all Canadian National championships from 1974 through 1987. Leagues played included North West, Pacific Coast, Intercity, and Vancouver City. In the USA, Joanne played in California, Texas, and Florida. Even further afield were trips to New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Japan, China and Taiwan with repeat visits. Adrian called Joanne the “best pitching coach to ever play the game.”
The highly decorated DOC's Blues team represented Canada in the International Softball Federation (ISF) IV Women's Worlds in 1978 and dominated their first seven games of the tournament, setting a record for runs scored and outscoring their opposition 66-5. Their only defeat came in the final, losing 4-0 to the USA. This 2nd place still stands as the highest showing for a Canadian team at a World Women’s Softball Championship. Their 1978 season finished with an amazing overall record of 113 wins, two ties, and just 16 losses in 131 games. DOC's Blues with Joanne Mick have been inducted into the Softball BC, Softball Canada, and BC Sports Halls of Fame.
