聽 聽 聽Lyle Balogh started playing fastball with the Langbank Canadians when he was 15 years old, and continued to play with that team until 1982.
聽 聽 聽That's a pretty 'long run'.
聽 聽 聽But as much time as Lyle has spent playing ball...he has spent even MORE time acting as umpire.
聽 聽 聽鈥淚 started umping in 1976. I was registered in 1978, so I've been a Registered Umpire for 39 years this year. I've worked the Saskatchewan Summer Games...Canadian Summer Games and Native Summer Games. I did my first Western Canadian Championship in 1985. I've also ran clinics in: Grenfell, Langbank, Estevan, Weyburn, Broadview, Carlyle, Kipling and Moosomin with Don Dean, Murray Holzapfel, Dave Hill and Bill MacPherson.鈥�
聽 聽 聽Certainly, Lyle has never hesitated to 'do his part'. Now, the community has the opportunity to 'do their part' for Lyle and his family. Fellow umpires: Dave Hill, Randy Rapitta and Greg Saville have gotten together to organize a unique fundraiser to assist Lyle and his family as Lyle battles with Esophageal Cancer.聽
聽 聽 聽鈥淭here will be a Men's Fastball League Double-Header and BBQ held in Langbank on June 11th. The BBQ will begin at 1 pm with the games starting at 2 pm. This is a family event, so no liquor will be served. We're hoping to have a lot of people come out.鈥�
聽 聽 聽Randy notes that Lyle is the sort of umpire that both players and spectators hope for.
聽 聽 聽鈥淟yle always tries to make the game fun...he wants people to get out and enjoy playing. So, he's really well respected by players, coaches and the people that come out to watch.鈥�
聽 聽 聽Randy adds that this fundraiser came out of one very basic motive.
聽 聽 聽鈥淲hen you see your friend...somebody you've worked with...fighting something like this...you want to do something to help. So, we decided to organize this. This is something that we CAN do.鈥�
