Becky Bell Routledge was in a class of her own
The Truro Sports Heritage Society will host its annual Sports Heritage Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Marigold Cultural Centre this Friday, Nov. 9.
Four individuals and one team will be enshrined into the Hall, including Sue Kaye (hockey), Steve Locke (fastpitch and golf), Becky Bell Routledge (softball), Terry Baker (football) and the 1968 Truro Trojan midget football team.
Tickets can be purchased for the Induction at the Marigold Cultural Centre for $15 each. A social will begin at 6:30 p.m., with presentations beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, call 902-897-4004.
Today, we take a look at the sporting accomplishments of inductee Becky Bell Routledge.
The name Becky Bell was well recognized for many years as one of the top young female fastball pitchers in the country.
Dominating the game at a young age, Becky learned her skills by Becky Bell Routledge earned national recognition as one of the premier fastball players in the country, renowned for both her pitching and batting.
playing ball with her brothers and in boys leagues during her early years. Her organized ball-playing career began with the North River Recreation Association, playing in the Central Colchester Minor Fastball Association.
When she was only 13, Becky was picked up by the Enfield Midgets girls’ team to play with them in Vancouver at the Canadian Midget Championships. Playing against bigger and stronger 15- and 16-year-old athletes, Becky was named an all-star outfielder with an impressive .600 batting average.
Former coach Stan Hennigar remembers Becky as a fearless competitor who was eager to listen and learn, and never gave up.
In the following years, Becky’s pitching and ball playing talents were in high demand. She often played most nights of the week for two teams each summer – North River Acettes of the Colchester Ladies Softball League and the Enfield Elites of the Halifax Ladies Fastball League.
Other highlights of Becky’s ball playing exploits, which resulted in several trips to national championships, include being on the first girls’ team to win a medal at Nationals when they won silver in Ontario in 1987. Becky was selected as tournament MVP. She pitched two wins and a save and batted .555 with eight hits, including a home run and triple, to go with five RBI’S and three runs scored.
Becky was a key member of a strong Nova Scotia team that competed in the 1989 Canada Games in Saskatoon, Sask. She was considered, at this stage, to be one of the elite female pitchers in Canada.
Becky continued to enjoy and excel in women’s fastball for many years. She enjoyed the competition, the camaraderie and helping younger players develop.
Becky demonstrated over many years, as one of the best in her sport, that she is well deserving of being inducted into the Colchester Sports Hall of Fame.