The Westman Border Fastball Museum is expecting to open this August at Asessippi Beach and Campground north of Russell, MB.
The museum has taken the name 鈥榃estman Border鈥� 鈥渋s because we are close to the Man Sask Border and we had well over 120 fastball teams that have played at our grounds many from Saskatchewan,鈥� said proprietor Rick Goraluk, adding 鈥渇astball was the most popular summer sport in the area.
鈥淚t is home to Asessippi Beach and Campground because this is where all the local teams played and the opening and closing of the beach with fastball brought in they say up to two thousand people.鈥�
In fact the campground has fastball to thank for its start in a sense.
鈥淭he Inglis Regals was the team that initially helped clear the bush and make the diamonds at Asessippi Beach and Campground in the late 1950鈥檚 when the Inglis Chamber of Commerce had the foresight to create a park like area,鈥� said Goraluk.
The new museum will generally focus on fastball of all ages, although most over the years have been 15-35 years old.
With the long connection to fastball the museum seemed a natural for the campground.
Goraluk said he initially had the idea to have a fastball reunion two years ago.
鈥淚 called it the Kicking Up The Dirt Fastball Reunion,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e had a formal part with old players telling stories, and pictures with most of the original Regals. We had slow pitch, beer gardens and I asked people to bring along memorabilia and lots of people wanted to bring some pictures, jerseys, uniforms, hats etc.
鈥淲ith me being too busy getting things ready for the event a friend Darryl Nernberg was extremely interested in helping and looking after that part. I could not do it on my own and had no idea of what was out there and how much people wanted to share.
鈥淪o he took over the display, I rented a 52-foot trailer made some stairs and our weekend museum was in place which filled right up and was a big success.鈥�
And now the museum will be a more permanent fixture.
The group purchased a 53-foot ground level trailer and it will be full of uniforms, equipment, pictures, news clippings, said Goraluk.
Memorabilia is coming from all over Manitoba and Saskatchewan,鈥� he said.
The museum will only be open in the summer and mainly weekends unless a group books ahead.
Goraluk said they hope to open beginning of August.
鈥淲e were going to have our Grand Opening but it will be next year due to COVID,鈥� he said.
