Biographical Information for Larry Lynch

BACKGROUND

Quite simply, Larry has included softball (fastball) as an integral aspect of not only his leisure time, but his day-to-day year round life for more than 30 years.

From his original playing days in minor softball, to his evolution as a player in the esteemed Memorial Fastball League and Intercity Fastball League at the senior men’s level and his ultimate dedication as a manager and administrator in the I.S.C. Travel League of Eastern Canada, Larry has displayed an undying passion for the sport.

Larry has been a key volunteer in the evolution of senior men’s fastball in Ontario, and his personal growth from a player, to a coach, to a field manager and general manager of a club team, has helped to sustain the sport.

Larry’s most remarkable contribution covered two decades in his role with the Waterloo Twins. Without Larry’s tenacity, and 16-year stint as field manager, the club, quite simply, would have folded in the challenging days of the 1990’s. Larry’s tremendous respect for the game and dedication to fielding a local senior team, has allowed the Twins organization to evolve to be the longest continuously operating senior men’s fastball team in Canada. This year’s edition, the Kitchener Hallman Twins, host team for the 2006 ISC World Tournament, is celebrating its 40^th anniversary year.

STATISTICAL SUMMARY

Ø      32 year career in Majors Men’s Fastball in Ontario, including player, coach, manager, general manager, tournament organizer and community volunteer

Ø      19 year competitor in I.S.C. affiliated leagues and tournaments, including Ontario’s Inter – City Fastball League and the Ontario ISC Travel League where opponents included the legendary Toronto Gators, Owen Sound Tiremen/Selects, Burlington  Clancy’s, Oshawa Double B’s, St. Catharines, Scarborough, and so on

Ø      15 appearances in the I.S.C. World Tournament as field manager, beginning with Victoria B.C in 1990. Lifetime win / loss record of 40 – 28, a highly credible winning percentage in the best club competition available

Ø      8  “top-10” finishes at I.S.C. World Tournaments, despite a limited major sponsorship of less than $5,000 from 1990-1999.

Ø      3  “back-to-back-to-back” Ontario I.S.C. Travel League Championships, 2000-2002.

Ø      Coached/managed Waterloo Twins to Ontario Provincial titles in 1994, 2000 and 2002.

Ø      Participated in 10 Canadian National Championships as a coach and field manager :        - National Championship in 2004 (Saskatoon)

                              - Silver medals in 2000, 2003 (Kitchener-Waterloo)

                              - Bronze medal in 1993 (Waterloo)

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Appointed to Canadian Senior Men’s National Team as a team leader in 2005, and continues to contribute to the game in this capacity.

INNOVATION AND PROMOTION

In addition to Larry’s “on-field” successes and achievements, Larry was visionary in the following aspects:

Ø      Conceived the idea of bringing the I.S.C. World Tournament to Kitchener in 1993, and was an integral part of the bid committees to eventually realize that dream in 2002, 2006 and 2007.

Ø      As a tireless promoter of the game, conceived the ideal of having a “Family of Teams” under one sponsorship from youth to senior ranks in Kitchener-Waterloo.  Secured sponsorship and long term commitment through the family of the late Peter Hallman and that “Family” of Waterloo and Kitchener Hallman Twins minor and senior teams continues today.

Ø      Served as Chair for Ontario’s premier early season tournament, the Waterloo Twins Classic, (later the Peter Hallman Twins Classic), from 1994-2005.

Ø      Initiated the Legends of Fastball Classic Tournament in Woodstock, Ontario, in 2003 and has continued to attract major men’s fastball to southern Ontario in early June.  The Legends event is the only major Ontario tournament that showcases teams from the I.S.C. Travel League and premier I.S.C. II teams, along with major teams from north-eastern U.S.A.

Ø      A strong community volunteer, has allocated tournament proceeds to provide financial assistance to:

o           - The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada

o           - The Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada

o            - Hats off to Chemo (helped secure more than 10,000 hats for children battling cancer hair loss through cancer treatment).

o           -  Ontario Special Olympics

PERSONAL

Ø      Proud father of 10 year old daughter, Courtney, who has shared many of Larry’s field successes with her beside him on the players’ bench.

Ø      Professionally, Larry is the manager of Engineering Infrastructure with the City of Kitchener (29 years).  He is responsible for the design, construction and long term Infrastructure Management of more than 700 kilometers of roads, sewers and water systems in Kitchener.

Ø      Technical and fastball advisor for the design and construction of Kitchener’s World Class Fastball Facility, Peter Hallman Ball Yard.

Personal Comment from Larry

“My success in fastball, as in life, is the result of the influence of the good people I have been touched by throughout the years.  My parents instilled in me and my five brothers and sisters the values of honesty, integrity, and hard work.  Likewise, we learned that regardless of our own lot in life, there is always someone who needed more than us.

The game of fastball has afforded me many successes, opportunities to travel and an abundance of memories. However, more than that, it is has provided me with the opportunity to share a lifetime passion with winners in life.  I am blessed by the friendships of players, fans, administrators and opponents, but more than that I am both humbled and enriched by the great contributions the game has provided for the greater community.  As a fierce competitor both playing and managing, I have always tried to impact upon my teams the same credo that has given me success in life, ‘Love the game like a little boy, and play it like a man’.”