Article By: Softball NL
Like Father, Like Daughter?
Father, Daughter Named Minor Player of the Year Award Winners 17-Yrs Apart!
Everyone is familiar with the phrases “Like Father, Like Son” or “Chip Off The Old Block” that are used to describe in most cases the relationships or similarities between a father and a son. The first phrase is obviously making reference to fathers and sons, while the second phrase is usually associated with fathers and sons, not fathers and daughters.
With Chris Maher and Rebecca Maher we have a case of “Like Father, Like Daughter” & the phrase “Chip Off The Old Block” applies here when it comes to the game of fastpitch!
At the 2015 Softball NL Annual General Meeting & Election of Officers, Rebecca Maher was presented with the 2014 Softball NL Minor Female Player of the Year Award. A well deserved award for a player who had an exceptional season on the softball diamond.
(Photo Credit: Anna Maher)
On the surface, the presentation of the 2014 Softball NL Minor Female Player of the Year Award was no different then in previous years, but a closer look and examination of this years winner and it became clearly evident that this years award was indeed different.
How Was It Different? Let’s Take A Look…
When the 2014 Softball NL Minor Female Player of the Year Award was being presented to Rebecca Maher, it donned on this writer that Rebecca’s dad (Chris Maher) was named Co-Winner of the 1997 Softball NL Minor Male Player of the Year Award for his performance on the softball diamond.
It wasn’t until they were having their picture taken together that it hit this writer that they had just become the first father-daughter combination in Softball NL history to have both been named Softball NL Minor Players of the Year.
2014 was definitely a year of firsts for Rebecca, as she also became the first female in Softball NL history to compete in the U18 Boys Fastpitch Provincial.
For fun let’s compare their award-winning seasons…
Flash-Back to the 1997 season when Chris Maher of Petty Harbour was patrolling the outfield for Newfoundland teams at the Local and National levels and for Team Canada at the International level.
A smooth outfielder with a strong accurate arm, a dangerous left-handed hitter with power and a competitive streak are the best ways to describe Chris Maher. Combine that with his character, wit and sense of humour and that is what made him not only a great player, but a great teammate.
In 1997, Chris Maher was a member of the following teams:
-Team Canada (U19 Junior Men’s World Championship)
-Sobeys Midget NL Selects (U19 Midget Nationals)
-NL Canada Games (Canada Games)
-Waterford Valley Maritime Ontario (23U Jr. Men’s FP League & 23U Provincial)
Chris was a member of Team Canada that participated at the U19 Junior Men’s World Championship held in St. John’s, NL from July 20th to 27th at the Caribou Sports Complex. Team Canada finished the tournament with a 9-3 Record and came away with a Bronze Medal.
Coming off a Bronze Medal performance at the U19 Junior Men’s World Championship, he joined the Sobeys Midget NL Selects at the U19 Midget Nationals in Clarenville, NL from July 28th to August 3rd at Elizabeth Swan Park. The Sobeys Midget NL Selects finished the tournament with a 3-3 Record and in 7th Place Overall.
His season would continue with a trip to the Canada Games in Brandon, MB from August 10th to August 15th. The NL Canada Games team finished the tournament with a 5-4 Record and came away with a Bronze Medal. The 1997 NL Canada Games team were the first NL Softball team to win a Medal at the Canada Games. He finished the tournament with a .208 Batting Average (5-for-25), 3 Runs Scored, 1 Double, 1 Triple & 3 Runs Batted In.
On the local softball scene, he was a member of the Waterford Valley Maritime Ontario Junior team that participated in the St. John’s 23U Junior Men’s Fastpitch League. His team finished the season with a 6-14 Record and in 6th Place Overall. He finished the season with the a .313 Batting Average (15-for-48), 9 Runs Scored, 4 Doubles & 2 Runs Batted In.
At the 23U Junior Provincial, Chris and his Waterford Valley Maritime Ontario teammates finished the tournament with a 3-2 Record and 4th Place Overall. His team lost 7-3 in the Semi-Final to CBC. He finished the tournament with A .200 Batting Average (3-for-15), 1 Run Scored, 2 Doubles, 1 Triple & 6 Runs Batted In.
At the conclusion of the 1997 season, Chris Maher & Ryan O’Neill (Goulds) were named Co-Winners of the Softball NL Minor Male Player of the Year. O’Neill was also a member of Team Canada’s U19 Junior Men’s team that participated in the 1997 U19 Junior Men’s World Championship in St. John’s, NL.
Fast-Forward to the 2014 season when Rebecca Maher of Petty Harbour was flashing the leather in the infield for Newfoundland teams at the Local, Provincial and Eastern Canadian levels.
A solid infielder, a consistent right-handed batter and a leader with a strong work ethic are the best ways to describe Rebecca Maher.
In 2014, Rebecca was a member of the following teams:
-Goulds U18 Girls (U18 Girls Fastpitch Provincial)
-NL Selects U18 Girls (U18 Girls Eastern Canadian Fastpitch Championship)
-Goulds U18 Boys (U18 Boys Fastpitch Provincial)
-Dream Kitchens (Ladies Fastpitch League)
-RMM Diamonds (Ladies Fastpitch Provincial)
At the U18 level, Rebecca put together a fine season and made history along the way.
She led the Goulds U18 Girls Midget Fastpitch team to a Silver Medal at the 2014 U18 Girls Fastpitch Provincial. She was named the tournament’s Top Batter going 6-for-8 .750BA.
She was a member of the U18 NL Selects Girls Fastpitch team that competed in the 2014 U18 Girls Eastern Canadian Softball Championship held in CBS. Her leadership and commitment to team success was evident and as one of the more experienced members of the team her work ethic set a higher standard that inspired many of her teammates.
She helped the Goulds U18 Boys Fastpitch team to a Silver Medal at the 2014 U18 Boys Fastpitch Provincial. Became the first female in Softball NL history to compete in the U18 Boys Fastpitch Provincial. Not only was this player on the roster, but she started all five games as an infielder splitting time between 1st Base and 2nd Base and played in 19 of her teams 31 innings (61%). She finished the tournament with a .222 Batting Average, 2 Runs Scored, 1 Stolen Base, 2 Walks and a 1.000 Fielding Percentage (13-13).
At the Adult level, Rebecca more than held her own during the season.
She helped Dream Kitchens to a 2nd Place finish in the St. John’s Ladies Fastpitch League Playoffs. At the conclusion of the League Final, she was named the Golden Glove Award Winner for her team, as selected by her teammates, for her strong defensive play at the shortstop position (which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions) throughout the entire 2014 season.
She helped the RMM Diamonds of the St. John’s Ladies Fastpitch League capture the 2014 Softball NL Coors Light Ladies Fastpitch Provincial Crown held in Corner Brook. She finished the tournament with an impressive .583 Batting Average (7-for-12), 7 Runs Scored, 1 Double, 1 Home Run, 3 Walks & 4 Runs Batted In.
Rebecca’s Overall 2014 Provincial Batting Stats (Minor & Adult)
15-29 .517BA, 14R, 2D, 2T, 1HR, 1SB, 8BB, 4RBI
Other Notable Awards: 2014 Premiers Scholarship Award Recipient.
So based on the information listed above, who had the better season?
Father or Daughter?
Let the debate begin! More importantly, let the family debate begin!
