Hockey and fastball fans alike cheered for Colin Newell in the 1980’s. He played for the Haliburton Huskies Junior “C” Hockey team in the winter, and the Minden Rockcliffe Hustlers in the summer. The Hustlers were the team to beat, winning six Tri-County Championships, in seven years. Colin’s dedication to fastpitch softball led him to the I.S.C. league in the 1990’s, playing for clubs that included Owen Sound, Oshawa, Scarborough and Bracebridge.
He competed in Provincial, National and World Championships in places as far away as British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Salt Lake City. Colin received numerous MVP awards and brought home bronze and silver medals at the Canadian Fastball Championships, silver at the I.S.C World Championships, and gold at the Ontario Senior “AAA” Championships. He also won three Ontario Intermediate C championships with Bracebridge.
The Newell family lived and breathed fastpitch. Colin credits his dad, Gene Newell, for inspiring himself and his brother, Greg, by building a baseball diamond beside their house in Gelert.
“Dad called it our Field of Dreams,” Colin says. “He never tired of coaching us.” Gene and Gala Newell were always more than happy to hit the road for a fastpitch tournament. “Mom and Dad were our biggest fans,” Colin says. “They would have been so proud to have seen this recognition.”
Colin is remembered by a former coach, Brian Harrington, as a right fielder with an upright batting stance and blurring bat speed. “More often than not, Colin decided the winning outcome of the game with a timely hit in the late innings. He was also a generous mentor, sharing his knowledge and skills of the game at clinics for young kids.”
