Photo provided by Maureen Biehn, T-Ball Trotters
A familiar face from the Norfolk County OPP helped make the end of the T-Ball Trotters’ season a little more special in Simcoe.
Officer Andrew Gamble joined the Special Olympics team for its season-ending barbecue and awards ceremony at Kinsmen Park, where he presented medals to the athletes.
Trotters bench coach Maureen Biehn says Gamble’s connection with the group actually started away from the ball diamond, through their winter bowling program.
Biehn added that Officer Gamble became a familiar and popular face with the group.
That relationship eventually carried over to the T-Ball Trotters, with Gamble presenting medals at last year’s celebration before returning again this season.
We spoke with Officer Gamble about the T-Ball Trotters, and he lit up when talking about this amazing team he’s become a part of.
During the season-ending celebration, the T-Ball Trotters gave Officer Gamble a medal of his own and made him a lifetime member of the team. He said it was a great honour to be recognized by the group.
The T-Ball Trotters had 19 athletes registered this season, meeting Monday nights near the splash pad at Kinsmen Park, with the program adapted to each athlete’s abilities.
The medals are purchased each year by Biehn and her husband, while several local supporters also help the volunteer-run program. Markie Bus Tours provided hats and shirts for the athletes, Simcoe Fine Jewelers engraved the medals, and an anonymous donor supplied hot dogs for the year-end barbecue.
The annual celebration officially brought another season to a close, with athletes, families, volunteers and one of their favourite local police officers coming together to recognize what the T-Ballers accomplished.
Written by Jeremy Hall
