Slough Water Donna Fires Final Pitch
(As adapted from Carmen Ellis facebook post - thank you!)
On Wednesday ,March 4th, 2015 one of the best pitchers of all time from the southwest passed away. All I can think of now is that she is up in heaven throwing her slough water pitch to a great catcher (Linda Lovo). Enjoy your game ladies and be sure when it's my time I'll take the 3rd base position on your heavenly team if you will have me. (Carmen)
And I get short stop or first base. (Colleen)
I'll give Linda a rest behind the plate because I'm sure Donna will still be trying to throw a few over the back stop..Sloughwater Donna ..you were the best ever! rest in peace my friend! (Rhonda)
Oh and we have Judy on 2nd. (Colleen)
... and Max coaching on 3rd! (Rhonda)
Love this Carmen! Just hope they tell anyone watching from behind the backstop to look out! (Cherisse)
Ha ha yes Cherisse- your mom would probably be a better pitcher down in hell cause she pitched the best on the hottest days and could pitch all day in the heat but I know she is up above watching over all of you. (Carmen)
Hey don't forget, Pauline & I get the best and loudest fan seats! Still have my red fan jacket!!! Memories--Priceless! (Jean)
I love this post. I thought the same thing when I heard. Rest in Peace . (Stacey)
As long as no one brings out the bottles of wine before the games are done- I'm sure those girls will win every game they play up there! (Carmen)
Haha Carmen!!! I'm sure that never, ever happened!! (Colleen)
Someone tell Gus not to bring out the wine!Just sit and cheer for everyone that strikes out on the fastball that looks like its going to be a strike but end up at head high! I don t know how many of those I caught!Then gave a little chuckle because they swung! (Rhonda)
I think she might be curling this week. (Gerry)
I can still hear Donna telling me when I said I couldn't go to a ball tourney cause I should stay home and clean my house- she said, "Carmen -when you die, people aren't going to remember how clean your dam house was- they are going to remember how you
played sports and had fun, so your coming and don't argue with me , you can vacuum tomorrow!!"
And she was right- no one has mentioned her house cleaning habits yet ... (Carmen)
Not only did Donna s height intimidate batters..she wore steel cleats also! Until the league outlawed them! (Rhonda)
With the pitching toe on them. (Colleen)
When I see these MLB pitchers that throw 5 innings then have a week's rest I just laugh because Donna threw every inning of at least 2 games a week ..then every inning of 2 tournaments every week end for 3 months! I swear if you measured her pitching arm it was longer then the other..she was our MVP every week. Without Donna Martineau we were nothing!
I remember playing against a young team from Leader at the Shaunavon tournament. They were the Junior provincial champions. They laughed at us because we played in t-shirts and blue jeans. I remember telling them we were too busy pitching bales to worry about what we looked like. Donna just gave that little side grin and threw her slough ball and the poor kids didn't know what hit them!!! Yes, we beat them! Pretty sure the wine made an appearance that day!!! (Colleen)
Ya we would go to tourneys , play ball and drink in the beer gardens in between games and play more games and the finals and still come out with all the cash - so much fun, some of the best years in my ball career for sure. (Carmen)
The game I remember playing was at Lafleche Fun for all Days and Central Butte was there and they thought they were pretty good especially since they had Vi Petersen and her daughter Lois on their team..we played them in the final and they whined about the umpiring and we all said a few things about them. But Donna just kept going to the rubber and in her own quiet way she showed them who was boss out there..and again.....we won! (Rhonda)
Mom often said those days were some of the best of her life.(Stacey)
We mustn't forget when Donna's youngest daughter and her friends infiltrated the ladies team. Ohhhhhh Donna!!! I'm sure she regrets the day she ever let us in her silver grand am. Such vivid memories of her pitching style and how it was damn well impossible to hit. (Rachelle)
Lots of great memories of her pitching while I was umping. She would give me a little scowl followed by a tiny 1/2 smile if she did not like my call. (Marty)
Foul ball Fanula Donnie would hit 7 foul balls before she hit one fair..those were the days my friends..I thought they would never end..la la la la.......the best for sure! (Rhonda)
I remember 2 windshields got broke in McCord - because we went to the beer gardens in between games. (Laurie)
(As adapted from Carmen Ellis facebook post - thank you!)
On Wednesday ,March 4th, 2015 one of the best pitchers of all time from the southwest passed away. All I can think of now is that she is up in heaven throwing her slough water pitch to a great catcher (Linda Lovo). Enjoy your game ladies and be sure when it's my time I'll take the 3rd base position on your heavenly team if you will have me. (Carmen)
And I get short stop or first base. (Colleen)
I'll give Linda a rest behind the plate because I'm sure Donna will still be trying to throw a few over the back stop..Sloughwater Donna ..you were the best ever! rest in peace my friend! (Rhonda)
Oh and we have Judy on 2nd. (Colleen)
... and Max coaching on 3rd! (Rhonda)
Love this Carmen! Just hope they tell anyone watching from behind the backstop to look out! (Cherisse)
Ha ha yes Cherisse- your mom would probably be a better pitcher down in hell cause she pitched the best on the hottest days and could pitch all day in the heat but I know she is up above watching over all of you. (Carmen)
Hey don't forget, Pauline & I get the best and loudest fan seats! Still have my red fan jacket!!! Memories--Priceless! (Jean)
I love this post. I thought the same thing when I heard. Rest in Peace . (Stacey)
As long as no one brings out the bottles of wine before the games are done- I'm sure those girls will win every game they play up there! (Carmen)
Haha Carmen!!! I'm sure that never, ever happened!! (Colleen)
Someone tell Gus not to bring out the wine!Just sit and cheer for everyone that strikes out on the fastball that looks like its going to be a strike but end up at head high! I don t know how many of those I caught!Then gave a little chuckle because they swung! (Rhonda)
I think she might be curling this week. (Gerry)
I can still hear Donna telling me when I said I couldn't go to a ball tourney cause I should stay home and clean my house- she said, "Carmen -when you die, people aren't going to remember how clean your dam house was- they are going to remember how you
played sports and had fun, so your coming and don't argue with me , you can vacuum tomorrow!!"
And she was right- no one has mentioned her house cleaning habits yet ... (Carmen)
Not only did Donna s height intimidate batters..she wore steel cleats also! Until the league outlawed them! (Rhonda)
With the pitching toe on them. (Colleen)
When I see these MLB pitchers that throw 5 innings then have a week's rest I just laugh because Donna threw every inning of at least 2 games a week ..then every inning of 2 tournaments every week end for 3 months! I swear if you measured her pitching arm it was longer then the other..she was our MVP every week. Without Donna Martineau we were nothing!
I remember playing against a young team from Leader at the Shaunavon tournament. They were the Junior provincial champions. They laughed at us because we played in t-shirts and blue jeans. I remember telling them we were too busy pitching bales to worry about what we looked like. Donna just gave that little side grin and threw her slough ball and the poor kids didn't know what hit them!!! Yes, we beat them! Pretty sure the wine made an appearance that day!!! (Colleen)
Ya we would go to tourneys , play ball and drink in the beer gardens in between games and play more games and the finals and still come out with all the cash - so much fun, some of the best years in my ball career for sure. (Carmen)
The game I remember playing was at Lafleche Fun for all Days and Central Butte was there and they thought they were pretty good especially since they had Vi Petersen and her daughter Lois on their team..we played them in the final and they whined about the umpiring and we all said a few things about them. But Donna just kept going to the rubber and in her own quiet way she showed them who was boss out there..and again.....we won! (Rhonda)
Mom often said those days were some of the best of her life.(Stacey)
We mustn't forget when Donna's youngest daughter and her friends infiltrated the ladies team. Ohhhhhh Donna!!! I'm sure she regrets the day she ever let us in her silver grand am. Such vivid memories of her pitching style and how it was damn well impossible to hit. (Rachelle)
Lots of great memories of her pitching while I was umping. She would give me a little scowl followed by a tiny 1/2 smile if she did not like my call. (Marty)
Foul ball Fanula Donnie would hit 7 foul balls before she hit one fair..those were the days my friends..I thought they would never end..la la la la.......the best for sure! (Rhonda)
I remember 2 windshields got broke in McCord - because we went to the beer gardens in between games. (Laurie)
Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere,
and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere people are laughing,
and somewhere children shout,
And there is some joy in Martineauville—mighty Donna has not struck out.
(Adapted from Casey at the Bat)
The Lafleche A women's softball team are the 1979 Bench League champions: (top row, L-R), coach Russ Lovo, Colleen Andries, Carmen Walters, Donna Martineau, Louise Phillips, Barb McCulloch, Laurie Hicks, Max Slater, ass't coach (middle) - Judy Watteyne, (front row) Florence Verhelst, Linda Lovo, Donnelle Morissette, Terry Slater and Rhonda Walters.
Rachelle remembers...
I have so many memories of Donna as Cherisse and I spent a lot of time together from diapers all the way through high school. She had a sarcastic sense of humour that we didn't come to truly appreciate until we were older. Attempting to catch for her when I was 16 was a terrifying, yet gratifying experience.
One of my most vivid memories is of my failed sleepover attempt when Cherisse and I were about 8 or 9 years old. I remember feeling like I wanted to go home at some point during the night but was too shy to ask. Donna came to check on us and, being that she knew I was a home body, she asked if I was okay. I asked if I could go home and sort of expected her to to tell me to try to forget about it and go to sleep (because that's what a lot of moms would say) but she didn't. She said she understood and that if I went home I could come back in the morning again if I wanted. Then she took me to call my mom. She probably never realized how much her kindness met to me then; and that's when I really realized she was a pretty great lady. I didn't see Donna very much over the last years since they moved to Medicine Hat but her memory will always remain strong with me.
Laurel (Myers) remembers...
I remember first meeting Donna when the Melaval kids came to Lafleche school. Cheryl & I were watching a ball game, and spotted Donna & Verlyn there. We decided to introduce ourselves. We became best friends almost instantly. We were teammates in almost all sports. Figure skating, softball, basketball, volleyball, and when we weren't in the game we were cheerleaders. Curling didn't start seriously for either of us until I had left Lafleche. Both of us were very competitive, but mostly we just loved the games. I remember the sleepovers we had, being counselors at Camp Woodboia, and the fantastic field trip to Cypress Hills that got us all into sooooo much trouble. I was always envious of the way she could drive her tree shift car that we spent many an hour cruisin' in. We drifted apart after high school, but when we did see each other we could bring those great memories back.
I will miss you dear friend.
Judy and Roger Vizbar remember...
We only knew Donna in a professional capacity, but were very shocked to see her obituary in the Medicine Hat News. She was far too young to leave us. Donna was always a welcoming presence in the Wood Gundy office and the last time I saw Donna, she and I had a wonderful chat centering around family and camping. I shall miss not seeing her friendly face when next we go to her office.
Deepest sympathy to all her family.
Dave and Helen Malcolm remember...
We were shocked and sad to hear of Donna's passing. Far to young to leave us.
I was the manager of TD in Assiniboia and Donna was the manager of the sub-branch in Lafleche and I had the pleasure of working with her for about 9 years. Donna represented TD well in her community and was a tremendous support for me.
Our sincere sympathy to Joe, children and grandchildren.
I have so many memories of Donna as Cherisse and I spent a lot of time together from diapers all the way through high school. She had a sarcastic sense of humour that we didn't come to truly appreciate until we were older. Attempting to catch for her when I was 16 was a terrifying, yet gratifying experience.
One of my most vivid memories is of my failed sleepover attempt when Cherisse and I were about 8 or 9 years old. I remember feeling like I wanted to go home at some point during the night but was too shy to ask. Donna came to check on us and, being that she knew I was a home body, she asked if I was okay. I asked if I could go home and sort of expected her to to tell me to try to forget about it and go to sleep (because that's what a lot of moms would say) but she didn't. She said she understood and that if I went home I could come back in the morning again if I wanted. Then she took me to call my mom. She probably never realized how much her kindness met to me then; and that's when I really realized she was a pretty great lady. I didn't see Donna very much over the last years since they moved to Medicine Hat but her memory will always remain strong with me.
Laurel (Myers) remembers...
I remember first meeting Donna when the Melaval kids came to Lafleche school. Cheryl & I were watching a ball game, and spotted Donna & Verlyn there. We decided to introduce ourselves. We became best friends almost instantly. We were teammates in almost all sports. Figure skating, softball, basketball, volleyball, and when we weren't in the game we were cheerleaders. Curling didn't start seriously for either of us until I had left Lafleche. Both of us were very competitive, but mostly we just loved the games. I remember the sleepovers we had, being counselors at Camp Woodboia, and the fantastic field trip to Cypress Hills that got us all into sooooo much trouble. I was always envious of the way she could drive her tree shift car that we spent many an hour cruisin' in. We drifted apart after high school, but when we did see each other we could bring those great memories back.
I will miss you dear friend.
Judy and Roger Vizbar remember...
We only knew Donna in a professional capacity, but were very shocked to see her obituary in the Medicine Hat News. She was far too young to leave us. Donna was always a welcoming presence in the Wood Gundy office and the last time I saw Donna, she and I had a wonderful chat centering around family and camping. I shall miss not seeing her friendly face when next we go to her office.
Deepest sympathy to all her family.
Dave and Helen Malcolm remember...
We were shocked and sad to hear of Donna's passing. Far to young to leave us.
I was the manager of TD in Assiniboia and Donna was the manager of the sub-branch in Lafleche and I had the pleasure of working with her for about 9 years. Donna represented TD well in her community and was a tremendous support for me.
Our sincere sympathy to Joe, children and grandchildren.