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Joanne Mick took up softball as a catcher in Bullen Park, Esquimalt with the Colwood and District Softball Association. It was a time when woman’s sports news was barely a blip on any radar.
Her softball journey began in 1964 when her friend, Brenda Green, wanted to play softball. Their fathers, “Smokey” Green and Paul Mick, coached that first pitcher-catcher combo with Brenda pitching and Joanne catching. The first year, they lost all but the final league game, but that win lit Joanne’s competitive flame!
In 1973, she formed a new combo with pitcher Rosemary Fuller under coach Walter Yeamans. The duo caught the eye of coach Adrian Lavigne who courted the duo for the 1974 National Championship. Both joined the team and won their first National Title that year. Recognizing the outstanding organization of Coach Adrian Lavigne teams (first called the Green & Louie Realtors, then DOC's Blues, and Alpha Sports) they stayed with him for the balance of their careers.
Patty Polych joined the squad in 1980 and, like Rose, loved to pitch, train, practice and learn the tools of the strikeout. The duo of Rose and Joanne started a new era, winning both Provincial and National Championships. Joanne played in two World Women's Softball Championships in 1982 and 1986. Highlights included winning the famed Warren Paine Umpires' Tournament in 1984 and 1985 in Texas, as well as a victory against the Raybestos Brakettes.
If Rose and Patty were the pitching stars, Diane Materi, Tracy Huclack, and others were just as capable to strike out batters. “Their pitching talent was awesome,” said Joanne. “But I loved their other positions more. They were outstanding in their field – right, left and centre.”
Joanne’s motto of “Have glove will travel” was coined with early pickup roles. She coached all pitchers when requested, relaying observations and encouragement, catching what was thrown. That glove proved to be a plane ticket to travel to the world’s best softball tournaments. Joanne played in all Canadian National championships from 1974 through 1987. Leagues played included North West, Pacific Coast, Intercity, and Vancouver City. In the USA, Joanne played in California, Texas, and Florida. Even further afield were trips to New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Japan, China and Taiwan with repeat visits. Adrian called Joanne the “best pitching coach to ever play the game.”
The highly decorated DOC's Blues team represented Canada in the International Softball Federation (ISF) IV Women's Worlds in 1978 and dominated their first seven games of the tournament, setting a record for runs scored and outscoring their opposition 66-5. Their only defeat came in the final, losing 4-0 to the USA. This 2nd place still stands as the highest showing for a Canadian team at a World Women’s Softball Championship. Their 1978 season finished with an amazing overall record of 113 wins, two ties, and just 16 losses in 131 games. DOC's Blues with Joanne Mick have been inducted into the Softball BC, Softball Canada, and BC Sports Halls of Fame.
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Born in Surry in 1977, Donnie was two when his family moved to Brentwood Bay. When Donnie turned six, his dad, Don Sr., took him to the Jaycee Boxing Club where he learned the basics, including jump rope, exercises, shadow boxing and hitting the heavy bag. At age 11, Donnie joined the Victoria Athletic Association (VAA) Boxing Club and started serious training with his father and Mike Caird. "Donnie Boy" started competing and winning around B.C and, by 1994, he was a Golden Gloves, Silver Gloves, Emerald Gloves and Diamond Belt Champion and won a Silver medal at the Canadian Championships.
After taking time out for high school, Donnie started training again in 1998 at VAA with Don Sr, Mike Caird and Ian Weir coaching him. During that year, Donnie won Gold at the Provincial Championships and was awarded the Best Boxer and Best Bout trophies. Also in 1998, he won Gold at the International Blue & Gold tournament in Los Angeles and was awarded the Most Outstanding Boxer for all weight divisions among 320 fighters. He finished the year winning a Silver medal at the National Championships in Sudbury, Ontario.
In 1999, Donnie repeated as Provincial Champion and Golden Gloves Champion, as well as being voted Best Boxer for both those tournaments. At the Canadian Championships, he won the Silver medal and shared the trophy for Best Bout. To cap off the year, Donnie won the Canadian Olympic Trials at Halifax, which earned him a spot on the Canadian team.
The year 2000 saw Donnie travelling to Tampa, Florida for the Americas Olympic Qualifying tournament, where he won the Silver medal and qualified for the Sydney Olympics. Unfortunately, Donnie was badly cut in his first bout at the Olympics and the referee had to stop the contest. During the 2001 season, Donnie won Gold at the Canadian Championships and was selected as Canadian Team Captain. He won Bronze at the Francophone Games in Quebec City and placed 5th at the World Championships in Belfast, Ireland. The Province of B.C. recognized his accomplishments with the Premier's Award of Excellence for 2001.
From 2002-2004, Donnie took time away from boxing and worked on his apprenticeship as a pipe-fitter until, in 2005, he moved to Las Vegas to train for a professional boxing career under Richard Steele (Boxing Hall of Fame referee). "Donnie Boy" had matches in Las Vegas, Boston, California and New York, and credits Steele as a great influence on his pro career which Donnie finished with 15 wins and one loss.
"Donnie Boy" retired from boxing in June 2010. He now resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife, Zonia, and 10-year old daughter, Bailey. Donnie's late mother, Ruth, was a huge influence on him and always stayed positive through the ups and downs of his boxing career. As one of Canada's best boxers ever, Donnie Orr is truly deserving of his place in the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame.
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