Over 280 Haliburton County women participated in the Ladies Softball League from 1967 to 1989.
Throughout the decades, there were ten teams representing the communities of Minden, Haliburton, Gooderham, Carnarvon, Wilberforce, Snowden, Irondale, and West Guilford (for several years, both Minden and Haliburton had a senior team and a junior team). Over 30 men and women volunteered their time as coaches over the years.
The league provided opportunities for women to compete alongside neighbours and family members. Mothers, daughters and occasionally grandmothers played together.
The crowds, who came out nightly to support their “hometown girls”, enjoyed games that demonstrated sportsmanship, camaraderie and competitive spirit.
Known for talented players and competitive teams, the league ended every season with a championship tournament held in Wilberforce. The highlights were a much sought after trophy and a fun banquet.
The league was proud to send their elite players to represent Haliburton County in various Ontario tournaments.
The “Ladies of Summer”, as they were known, provided active engagement in sport for hundreds of women. Their fundraising tournaments supported other local sports clubs including minor hockey, figure skating, and youth baseball.
The league is remembered for providing over twenty years of summer softball and lasting friendships.
Team Rosters
West Guilford Team
Cheryl Cooper (Nicholls), Alberta Nicholls Upton, Debbie Stinson (Barry), Linda Sisson, (Letourneau), Bev Sisson (Mawbey), Heather Coneybeare (Thompson), Angela Balle (Sisson), Terri-Lynn Holden (Barry), Melanie Flood (Duchene), Jennifer Willy (Sisson), Juanita Sisson, Rhonda Shaw (LaPorte), Jackie Sheridan (Yateman), Terry Griffin,
Sandy Roberts, Charlotte Barry, Karen Minaker, Nancy Minaker, Michelle Rosenburg,
Heather Sweet, Dana Googh, Sandy Barry, Bonnie Thornton (Stevens), Bethany Wood,
Brenda Lavender, Bonnie MacAusland, Laurell Yateman (Austin), Gail Teasdale,
Joan Mckay, Merrie Barry, Linda Morrison, Nancy Brink, Linda Herbert,
Coaches: George Nicholls, Will Upton, Larry Robinson.
Haliburton Sr. Team
Deanna Rosenburg, Judy McCracken, Pam Roberts, Marlene Nimigon, Sue Little, Cheryl Howe, Marina Maughan (Pearsell), Nancy Gadway (Maughan), Sheila Elston, Kim Roberts, Wendy Newell (Roberts), Shirley Clancy (Bishop), Jody Curry, Ginny Heming, Jane Johnston, Jeanette Howe, Maxine Magee (Roberts), Linda Rosenburg, Brenda Fearrey, Jane Renne (Rinne), Betty Hewitt (Whiteway), Kim Austin, Sue Bennett, Kim Parish, Faye Schonhoffer, Laurie Curry (Scheffee), Jeanie Mackey, Sherry Mulholland (Davis), Kim-Bob Roberts, Sherry Roberts, Brenda Cooper, Bev Sawyer, Nancy Wood (Roberts), Rosie Langstaff, Joann Bounsall, Linda Long, Violet Maughan, Mary-Lou Bird, Cindy Henry (Scheffee), Ann Schell, Lynn Graham, Wanda Scott Hooey, Brenda Ripley, Susan Maughan, Helen Good,
Coaches: Ron Perrin, Tom Little, Jack Gubster,
Carnarvon/Stanhope Team
Karen Eager, Sharon McIntosh (Harrison), Kelly Cunningham (Harrison), Cathy Snell (Darby), Shirley Harrison, Marg Darby, Jean Foster, Marilyn Kinsman, Carolyn Kinsman, Lois McBrien, Janine Kellett Harrison, Sandra Bishop, Lynn Watson, Terry Mansen, Jackie Gough, Sandy Gough, Audrey Redner, Linda Renouf Dennison, Darlene Barnhart Archer, Joan Alger, Toos Reid, Rose Barry, Belinda Brown, Sharon Harrison,
Coaches: Steve Barker, LeRoy Eager, Merv Redner.
Gooderham Team
Deanna Wruth (Bird), Wonetia McDuff, Karen Noseworthy, Barb Hunter, Bonnie Hunter, Alvina Carey, Beatrice Hills, Loretta Billings, Cathy Hillis, Connie Hillis, Sheila McDuff, Betty Smith, Cecile Billings, Linda, Margaret Bates McNeil, Sharon Hunter, Lynda Pockett, Shelley Pockett, Honey Billings,
Coaches: Vince Billings, Roger Billings, Howard (Buck) Hillis.
Haliburton Jr Team
Marla MacNaull, Wendy Iles (Davis), Wendy Sisson (Ballantyne), Sue Ballantyne, Maria Rosenberg, Melissa Creelman, Tracy Harrison Dack, Miriam Smith, Kim Ballantyne (McCracken), Wanita Harrison Livingstone, Michelle Harrison Moore, Margaret Smith, Pam Iles Burke, Jody McKnight, Tara Davies,
Coaches: Mike Hatkoski, Scott Arbuthnot.
Andy’s Angels/Irondale Teams
Linda Robertson, Doris Robertson, Ruby Graham, Brenda McAdam, Debbie Swanton, Carolyn Anderson-Steele, Valerie Anderson, Shirley McKnight, Ursula Cramer, Brenda Simmons, Lou Graham, Cathy Fisher, Laura Thorn, Glenda Simmons, Mary-Anne Anderson, Rica Anderson, Jane Wilson, Arlene Simmons, Kim Sharpless, Marion Helsby, Betty Obrien, Sue Cooper, Judy Graham, Kelly Newell,
Coaches: Fred Simmons, Norman Graham.
Minden Jr Team
Terri Johnson (Dillon), Cheryl Dillon, Jodi Stamp (Dillon), Laurie Welch, Laura Thorn, ana Hill, Bonnie Maxwell, Anne Marie Simmons, Linda Maxwell, Nancy Armstrong, Darlene Pettes (Danilko), Lisa Brohm, Anita Beaver, Lori Dunham, Warna Blakey, Ethel Muli, Kim Sinclair, Heather Kennedy, Sue Kennedy, Jocelyn Kennedy, Brenda Aggett, Linda Lenne (Booth), Michelle Horsley, Susan Horsley, Dawn Horsley, Lindy Ingram, Nancy Walker, Liz Lydiatt, Charlene Austin, Sue Pye,
Coaches: Bill Dillon, Tom Simmons, Mike Kitcheman, Bruce Porter, Brian Dunham, Brian Austin, Harry Pye.
Snowden Stompers Team
Glenda Newell, Ann Burk, Diane Walker, Audrey Vick, Julie Vick, Karen Vick, Kathy Gartshore, Colleen Bacon Wilson, Lorraine Jennings, Wendy Nicholls, Cathy Anderson, Ann McDonald, Helen Stevens, Joanne Anderson, Brenda Gibson, Rachel Billings, Gala Newell.
Coach: Jeff Carpenter.
Wilberforce Team
Susan Musclow (Rowbottom), Gail Krupa (Tallman), Joann Olszewski, Cheryl Riley, Gail Rowbottom, Cindy Abblott, Kim Mumford, Jane Taylor, Marilyn Peregrine, Lori Dean, Kathy Walsh, Rhonda Walsh, Cathy Agnew, Kris Storey, Lynn Storey, Shelly Welsh, Arlene Mathews, Robin Mathews, Virginia Rivers, Susan Rivers, Glenda Woodcox, Anne Alden, Sue Walton, Judy Trumbull.
Coaches: Marilyn Peregrine, Lori Dean, Tony Mathews, Danny Mathews, Gerry Waugh.
Minden Sr Team
Helen Burk, Nelda Cully, Wendy Gough, Norma Burk, Andrea Burk Donaldson, Margaret Fielding, Barb Winn, Ann Hewson, Rhonda Wilson, Sheila Wilson Graham, Marlene Wilson, Corry Ziorjen, Jacqueline Ziorjen, Liz Barker, Shelley Moxam, Susan Leary, Jan Fitchett, Joan Paul, Jane Symons, Laurie Brown, Trish Slavik, Lorraine Manary, (Carpenter), Donelda Smith (Danilko), Diane Warnes, Carol Toye, Denise Levesque, Lori Roberts Northey, Debbie Dart, Sheila Greer, Charlene Fountain, Jody Campbell, Ray Marie Burk, Lori McKay, Marilyn Walker Denyer, Sherry Walker, Gwen Walker, Lynn Osinchuk, Tina Stevenson, Yolanda McCormick, Patti Lou Vasey, Lois Deacon, Cindy Roodenberg, Lori Hewitt, Lyn Wyman, Laura Willis, Shirley Tompkins, Eileen Simmons,
Coaches: Gene Newell, Wayne Cully, John Hewson, Jim Winn, Ken Fielding, Mike Jackson.
