Harper Detroit Diesel has been a 70’s sponsor in Alderwood and the teams under the coach Freddie Merritt would go on to win several tournaments. Harper Diesel moved into Alderwood in 1946 and started sponsoring about 1970.
1974 Alderwood teams would play other teams in Etobicoke for an Etobicoke Softball Trophy. If they won they could go on to be able to compete in the City or Metro Toronto Fastball Championships. It seems that they could win a city championship but still had to qualify for the Ontario Provincial Trophy. Fred Merritt would become one of the most decorated with several championships over the years of his coaching.
News Articles are courtesy of Paul Wilson
In 1974 Alderwood Softball Assoc. hosted a Midget Tournament. Our Midget Harper Diesel team under Freddie Merritt would go on to be the overall champs.
They beat Oshawa 7-0 in the opener, next Galt 9-0, Eringate 6-0 in their third game and took Seven Oak 14-0 in the final game.
The three winning pitchers were Rod Favreau, Jackie Phillips, and Dave Jackson who only allowed two hits in four games.
Alderwood was awarded the Bernie Fabric Memorial Trophy awarded by former Etobicoke mayor Bruce Sinclair
This team joined the North York Softball League as a member and became a team to be not taken lightly.
Member of the North York Softball League
The Midget Harper Diesel starts their season off with two shutouts.
Willowdale Ponderosa 5-0
North York Lions 19-0
The Midget Harper Diesel starts their season off with two shutouts.
Willowdale Ponderosa 5-0
North York Lions 19-0
Alderwood’s Harper Diesel beat Amesbury of North York 9-0 in the Valley to challenge Willowdale’s Golden Bears for first place in the Midget Division of the North York League. Our boys are favoured to win the Championship with only four hits in their last five games. The final will be held at our own park…Guess who won!
Barrie Senior Fastball Tournament
In the opening game, Our Harper Detroit Diesel team shattered Huntsville 7-1
Their next rival was a fellow team from the North York league, Willowdale Golden Bear, but they just scrapped by with a 1-0 victory to go to the finals
For the championship they had to go up to the home team. They managed to beat Barrie 6-3 and also out hit them 7-2 for the bragging rights of being the 1974 champs.
They received the Barrie Senior Fastball Trophy for their efforts
Alderwood’s Midget team, Harper Detroit Diesel 1974 North York Midget Finalists
The 1974 Harper team cleans up North York and takes on the best of three Playoffs series for representing Etobicoke in the Ontario Amateur Softball Championship (Provincials).
Scores are impressive with Harpers solid pitching and powerful bats. The victories over Don Mills team Don Victoria 17-3 & Avenue Rd 10-0 shows that. Richmond Hill 5-1 win, seem to more of a challenge.
They beat Scarborough 10-3 to advance to the Metro Championship.
1974 Etobicoke Midget Champs.
Alderwood wins the Etobicoke championship to advance to the Metro (city) Softball Championships. They will go up against Richmond Hill Bears, Owen Sound, Barrie, Toronto Island, Oshawa, and Scarborough.
They beat Eringate by one run. The 3-2 win came after a pitchers battle and a few errors on Eringate’s behalf.
1974 North York Midget League Champs
Alderwood trounces Scarborough 10-3
Alderwood trounces Scarborough 10-3
to advance to the Metro area finals.
Metro Toronto area Finalists
Metro Toronto Finalists
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