1973 Ontario Fastball Intermediate B Champions

The 1973 Hespeler Simplicity Fastball squad did what no local team was able to do since 1948: win the Ontario Provincial Intermediate B championship.

It was also the first provincial championship won by a team from the newly amalgamated City of Cambridge.

The team won the Intercity Fastball League that year, as well as other tournaments, including the Waterloo Chymers Senior Fastball Tournament, the Brampton Senior Fastball Tournament and the Hillsburgh Intermediate Tournament.

For their efforts, team members were presented with City of Cambridge Silver Medallions for being the first city team to win a provincial title.

The team, begun by Gus Kitzman and Bob Craig in 1968 and called the Hespeler Tartans, was initially sponsored by From Brothers and played in the Preston District Fastball League.

The Tartans won the league title that season.

In 1969 they played in the Tavistock and District Fastball League, winning the league title once again.

The next season, seeking more competition, they moved into the county’s premiere league, the Inter County Fastball League. The team combined
the standout pitching of Jake Neu and Bob Prior, and included a nucleus of talented players like infielders Don Parks, Jim Hagarty, Stan Hardman, Dan Donahue and catcher Peter Marenjohn. Complementing this group were key outfielders Bob and Ken Craig, Bill Dolson, Maynard Warner, Bob and Doug Hillis, and Jack Hamilton.

That first season in the Inter County league was another successful one as they captured three tournaments and won the league championship. They repeated the feat the next season, with a roster bolstered by import pitcher Brian Anderson of Preston.

In 1972 the team became the Hespeler Simplicity Fastball Club and moved to the Intercity Fastball League where they won it all in 1973.