Ellsworth leaving O’Leary rec director position
Going to work full-time on Exit Speed Swing invention
The Town of O’Leary is losing its recreation director.
Jeff Ellsworth, who took up the position in May 2014, recently tendered his resignation, effective June 21.
Ellsworth said he will be working fulltime promoting Exit Speed Swing, a new business he co-owns that markets a training aid for baseball and softball batters. The business partners recently pitched their product to CBC’s “Dragons’ Den” but the outcome of that presentation has not been disclosed.
Ellsworth’s resignation came four days after O’Leary town council approved his summer vacation dates, which were timed to coincide with some of the major events on his summer ball schedule. He is coach of Canada national junior men’s team and is also busy with ball clinics.
Since having his vacation schedule approved, Ellsworth said other opportunities came up, including an invitation from Softball USA to give a softball clinic in Oklahoma with 1,500 athletes and also to attend an 80-team tournament in North Dakota.
The week before Ellsworth finishes his position, O’Leary will be hosting a major softball tournament, the Spudchucker Gala. He said he is hoping a new recreation director will have been hired by then so he can help co-ordinate the gala and prepare for other tournaments and special events already on the summer schedule.
During his time in O’Leary, the longtime member of Canada’s senior men’s softball team helped attract several national and eastern Canadian softball championships to the town.
He also started a minor hockey tournament, which last year attracted 43 teams playing out of all five western P.E.I. arenas.
The outgoing recreation director extended thanks to council for their support which allowed him to carry out his duties and also attend various softball events around the world.
“I totally appreciated everything they did for me,” he said.