Joan Benton
Joan Benton was born in Apple Hill to parents Myles and Edna Benton. She attended the local primary school, then Maxville Public, graduating from Maxville High School. In high school she played volley ball, basketball, fastball and did track and field.
She began playing ball at age thirteen for the Apple Hill Border Ridettes, then she progressed through several different leagues. In the early ‘70’s she was a member of the Stormont Ladies’ Fastball Team, where she won Rookie of the Year honours in 1973. The following years she received the Top Batter Award.
After joining the Alexandria Ladies’ Fastball Team, she was the winner of the Top Batter Award for five consecutive years. In addition, Joan was named the MVP nine times from 1976 to 1992. Joan excelled in both hitting and pitching, as well as being the centre of Art Benton’s Apple Hill Club’s success in the Alexandria League. She pitched competitively for ten years in the ‘80’s “windmill” style. However a rulebook amendment was enacted banning the “whip” or windmill style of pitching, which Joan had learned as a kid on the farm, playing softball “with the guys.”
Every weekend saw her travelling to Ottawa and surrounding areas to take part in fastball competitions.
Joan also was a formidable broomball player for teams in several different leagues: Alexandria, Cornwall, Embrun, Maxville and Williamstown for a period covering thirty-five years. She took part in many 24-hour broomball tournaments, participated in both regional and provincial broomball showdowns, and won numerous awards for best defense in broomball – nine times at least!
In 1999 she was the winner of the Elaine Avery Award. At age 57 Joan still plays broomball in Williamstown during the winter. In addition Joan played sponge puck hockey in Alexandria until the league folded, winning numerous best defense awards. She still plays ball hockey in Alexandria during the summer.
Along with winning many individual awards, Joan won many team championships in the various areas of play.
Joan has two daughters, Danielle who resides in Vancouver and Michelle who is at home. Joan presently works for Canada Post out of Williamstown.
