Audie Zimmer
Audie Zimmer was born on a farm near Endcliffe, not far from Russell, Manitoba, in 1934. Growing-up on a family farm with four older brothers, two older sisters, two younger sisters and one younger brother, playing fastball was a big part of his family’s sport entertainment. Audie attended Thunder Creek School and played ball during recess-lunch time; also, against other country schools as well. Audi loved the game.
In the mid 50’s, Russell organized a men’s fastball team called the Russell Rockets, and Audie joined the team. The Rockets competed against teams from around the area like the Inglis Regals and the Lennard Wildcats. There were many tournaments held in Manitoba at the time including Birtle, Dauphin, Rivers, Swan River, Oakburn, St. Lazare and Lennard. In Saskatchewan;, these locations included Langenburg, Saltcoats, Rhein, Togo, Churchbridge, Yorkton, Buchanan, Kamsack, Calder and MacNutt.
Cam Collins and Audie were the pitchers on the team at that time. It was at the Saltcoats July 1st tournament where three Manitoba teams ended up in the playoffs. The Russell Rockets played the Inglis Regals in the semi-final and won the game. Then the team played the Lennard Wildcats and beat them in the final. It was then and there, because of the speed Audie could throw, that the nickname the “Bullet” was immortalized.
When the Russell Rockets no longer had enough players to field a team, Audie joined the Inglis Regals. At that time, Jim Bulbuck and Audie were the pitching tandem. The Regals again participated in many fastball tournaments throughout Manitoba and Saskatchewan with the highlights being the Asessippi Beach opening (June) and closing (August) tournaments; the Asessippi hill was alive with fans.
Audie really enjoyed playing fastball as he pitched many, many games. As Audie’s playing days were winding down, he coached the Endcliffe Royals for a period of time. When his three sons became of age to grip a fastball, the next generation of fastball players were being mentored on the Zimmer farm under the tutelage of Audie and Anita.
From his playing and coaching days, he understood the game, the rules and umpiring in general. The transition to umpiring was inevitable and seamless, that was what he really wanted to do – for the love of the game and to give back to the great game of fastball that he and his family had enjoyed for so many years.
Audie became a retired fastball player, retired fastball coach and then an active fastball umpire.
Audie umpired for many years in the Yellowhead Men’s Fastball League, the Border Men’s Fastball League and in tournaments in Hoopers Lake, Miniota, St. Lazare and of course at Asessippi Beach.
Audie was the umpire at many of his sons’ games and was so proud of their desire and ability to play hard all the time.
Players would comment about his umpiring, “He was fair, usually hard on his boys so the team would respect what he was doing, insisted on being fair at all times and was a great umpire”.
Wally Fleury
Wally Fleury was born just outside St. Lazare on the family farm in 1940.
Wally played in the Manitoba Senior Baseball League as a catcher with the St. Lazare Athletics in 1963 and 1964. The Athletics were the Pennant Winners in 1963 and in 1965 the League Champions. The St. Lazare Athletics 1962-67 team were inducted to the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Wally then moved to Williams lake, British Columbia, to play hockey. During the summers in Williams Lake, Wally organized, coached and played on an all-native fastball team called the Williams Lake Labatt Chiefs.
In 1971 at Port Alberni, British Columbia, the Williams Lake Labatt Chiefs were the Senior Men’s Western Canadian Finalist.
Eventually the hockey road led Wally and family back to Manitoba and Russell. Merril Kiliwnik, the Umpire and Chief of the Manitoba Senior Baseball League at the time recruited Wally as an umpire for the Binscarth Orioles and Angusville Cardinals baseball teams.
Over the years, Wally had the honour to participate as an umpire at the Canadian Midget Championships in Moncton, New Brunswick, the Senior Men’s Championships in Binscarth, Manitoba and the Western Canadian Intermediate Championships in Glenboro, Manitoba.
Wally eventually transferred his baseball umpiring skill to the great game of fastball, into becoming an excellent fastball umpire. One of his mainstays was the Asessippi Beach opening and closing tournaments (10 years) and the huge St. Lazare tournament. Wally and Audie Zimmer were the strong tandem of umpires at all the Russell home games who participated in the Yellowhead Men’s Fastball league. Wally commented, “it was the very high caliber of play and sportsmanship exhibited along the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Border that he enjoyed and treasured.”
The fans in many cases were entertained by Wally’s style and the players were very appreciative of the professionalism by which Wally conducted himself on the diamond.
His greatest fans were the ball chasers that he brought to the diamond with him (his sons).
Wally was always fair, loved the great game of fastball, a game that we all were very passionate about.
Thank you Wally for your support and commitment to fastball.
