New Kinsmen scoreboard enjoyed by all fans

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

The late George Pinchbeck, a former local school superintendent and avid baseball fan’s legacy will live on through the brand new state-of-the-art scoreboard recently installed in Kinsmen Park.
“It makes the kids a little more proud to be playing at that diamond,” said Terry Desserre, the initiator of the project and a son-in-law to Pinchbeck. “I think it enhances the game for everybody. It’s easier for everyone to follow what’s going on with the game.”
The scoreboard has been a huge upgrade compared to what fans and players were used to for many years beforehand at the ballpark.
“100 per cent you could never see the score,” said Desserre. “The only way was the little flipcharts that were behind the back stop. You’d have to stick your head around there or ask the score keeper what the score was.”
Desserre’s mother-in-law, Marianne Pinchbeck, could not believe the amount of community support that was put into getting the scoreboard in honour of her late husband who died a year ago.
“With how they did it, I’m just so impressed that the town and anyone to do with it that approved it,” said Pinchbeck.
“They figured out how everything is going to work, I am just so pleased.”
Pinchbeck and her husband could often be seen at the diamond both watching their grandkids and often would watch other teams on the field because of both of their passions for the game.
“He loved kids, he loved watching sports and I know he would be pleased that there was something in the community in his name,” said Pinchbeck.
She is really thrilled with the fact that you now see the pitch counts and the score all on one board compared to the old system that was very difficult to see during games.
“It’s really nice to have that information at your fingertips,” she said.
She added that the main reason she goes to Kinsmen Park is to watch her grandkids Scott, who is with the midget triple A Reds, and the younger one Mitchell who is with the U13 Reds.
Town of Strathmore Councillor Brad Walls, who was a friend with Pinchbeck’s from their Lions Club days, could not be more enthused to see recognition of a guy who made such an impact in this community.
“George did a lot for this community and it’s the least we could have done,” said Walls. “We want to really thank his family, because his family were the ones that organized and got it set up. George was the most community minded individual I know.
“Everything, I believe, he did was for the community and the betterment of the community. I think he’d be pretty honoured to have that. Knowing George, he’s pretty humble, I’m not sure if he would’ve liked, it but I think it’s a great way for him to be remembered.”
Between the donations and materials that were bought, the total cost was around $20,000 to complete the scoreboard.