Wade Wrubleski received a nice surprise from Softball Saskatchewan earlier this month.
Wrubleski was honoured with the Volunteer of the Year award by Softball Saskatchewan for his dedication in helping prepare Pleasantdale Softball Diamonds for the Estevan 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games softball competition. The award also recognized the incredible amount of time he put in during the Games prepping the fields and coordinating the volunteer effort.
“The biggest thing is it kind of showed that all the work and effort I put into helping maintain the diamonds was noticed,” said Wrubleski, noting he did not expect to be selected as the winner of the award. “I guess all the hard work I put in paid off.”
The long-time volunteer groundskeeper was a key liaison with the City of Estevan regarding a new score clock for the ball fields and oversaw its installation before the Games. Wrubleski also spent countless hours helping tear down old fencing and installing new enclosures, laying the cement pad for the announcer's booth and keeping up regular maintenance of the fields.
“We wanted to make sure every part of the diamonds...was up to the calibre that was to be expected,” he said. “We just knew that it was really going to showcase our diamond because it was a provincial championship, the Summer Games. We wanted to make sure that our diamonds were in the best shape that we knew we could get them in.”
Wrubleski said there was a core of 15 guys who volunteered their time during the Games and the award also recognizes the help they provided. He said most worked in shifts over the four days, but two individuals were especially helpful in making sure the event was a success.
“Don Holinaty and Gary Earl were there during the actual (competition),” said Wrubleski. “Leading up to it I had a bunch of guys helping me do stuff, but during the actual Summer Games those two guys were there non-stop, four days, morning to night. Me and those three. Other guys helped throughout, but those guys really made the Summer Games come through.”
Wrubleski began volunteering with Estevan Girls Softball about 15 years ago when his daughters Blair, Mallory and Drew played through the ranks. His son Tate also served as a softball umpire for many years. Over that time Wrubleski has served as a coach, board member, equipment manager, umpire coordinator and groundskeeper.
After the Summer Games came to a close, Wrubleski stepped down as the head groundskeeper for Estevan Girls Softball. He said it's time for someone new with girls of their own in the sport to take over and maintain the beautiful diamonds that the people of Estevan are so fortunate to have.
“I guess you could say I'm going to mentor whoever is going to take my place and, obviously, (spend) a lot more time on the golf course and working in my backyard, which never got worked on because of the diamonds,” he said. “I'm sure I'll be helping out with tournaments and stuff like that, but it's just time for somebody else to do it.”
