September 17, 1997
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)
 

The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Softball Newfoundland and Labrador President, Ivan Hapgood, announced today that Len Beresford has been selected for induction into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame, an honour which he truly deserves.

Len, a native of St. Brendan's, played in the St. John's Senior Men's Softball League for 18 years from 1971 to 1988. He played 389 season games with a batting average of .331 and 101 playoff games with a batting average of .365. Len won numerous individual titles including M.V.P, Batting Champion, number one in Hits, Runs Scored, Triples, Doubles and R.B.I.'s, as well as being named to all-star teams on a regular basis. Len represented the province at 11 national competitions and always demonstrated sportsmanship both on and off the field. A teammate of Beresford commented that "Len was the best batter in the province and probably among the top five in the country."

In 1974, Len was the first Newfoundlander selected to the All-Canadian team. That same year he set a record at the Senior Nationals with three consecutive home runs in one game. Len put fear in all pitchers as he presently holds the single season batting average record of .494.

In 1982, Len was honoured by Softball Newfoundland and Labrador being inducted into their Hall of Fame following in 1993 he was inducted into the Sport Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Fame.

Len is the sixth Newfoundlander to be inducted into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame. The others being Duey Fitzgerald, Vince Withers, Patti Polych, Mag Davis and Gus Walters. The official induction ceremony will take place when the Annual General Meeting of Softball Canada moves back to the Atlantic Region.

1997 09 17 2:45 p.m.
 

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