Bob’s involvement in fastball as a player, coach and sponsor spans nearly 60 years.  He started playing in the Townsend Twi-light league at the age of 13 and continued his involvement in the sport as a coach and then a sponsor until the early 1990’s.  As a player, he played shortstop for the Townsend Stars who brought this area its first provincial men’s softball championship when the only players who wore gloves were the catcher and the first baseman.  Bob’s fielding average as a “bare handed” shortstop was a remarkable .914.  He also excelled as a pitcher.  In 1949 he contracted polio, but his strong determination to succeed helped him to recover and become an outstanding fastball player.

Bob’s triumphs are many and varied. As a player and coach, he can claim the following:

·        1947 Townsend All Stars Intermediate “C” Ontario Champions  (Norfolk’s first OASA Championship)

·        1958 formed the Villa Nova Milk Producers Co-Op fastball team – was player/coach

·        1961 Villa Nova was Ontario Intermediate  “B” Champions

·        1962 Ontario Intermediate “A” Champions

·        1963 Ontario Senior “B” Champions

·        1964 Ontario Senior “B” Champions

As a sponsor, he can add the following successes:

·        1971 formed, sponsored and coached Waterford Intermediate Fastball team

·        1984 Midget OASA Champions

·        1986 Ontario Open “A” Fastball Champions

·        1993 OASA Intermediate Men’s Fastball Champions and represented Ontario at the Eastern Canada Championships in Nova Scotia where they won the Bronze medal

Bob’s skills and participation went well beyond the ball diamond. During his illustrious career, Bob referred over 800 basketball games in the Brantford and District Association as well as finals in COWSSA and at the University of Guelph.  From1971 – 76 he sponsored the Laning Lancers Senior Men’s Basketball team.

In 1984 Bob was awarded the Ontario Bicentennial medal for his outstanding contribution to his community and was named Waterford’s  “Citizen of the Year” in 1990.

Bob Laning is now being inducted into the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition.

By Mike Vrooman

and Don Stewart

December 2006