THE BATTLEFORDS -- Long-time, well-known umpire, Marilyn O’Driscoll, from the Battlefords was laid to rest Aug. 28. Hundreds attended her funeral service, with fellow Softball Sask. umpires dressed in uniform while former players wore gear from teams she was on, while younger players and families were dressed in their association’s softball apparel.
A special tribute was made at the Battlefords Flats early that afternoon, where O’Driscoll officiated hundreds of games.
The Battlefords Minor Softball Association made a special tribute on home plate at Diamond 2, stating in their social media post, “Today, we said goodbye one more time to one of BMSA’s pillars. Rest easy Marilyn, you will be missed and never replaced. Let this memorial be a small place hold until we can plan a way to truly honour how much you meant to our association.”
BMSA invited others to sign a ball and leave it on the tribute site at home plate and would add more softballs if needed.
It was noted at her service that O’Driscoll served with Softball Saskatchewan as an umpire for 40 years. In a fitting tribute to end her memorial service, the organist played ‘Take me out to the ball game’, to which everyone sang the words along to. It was a final farewell to a well-respected and admired woman who helped grow the game of softball in the Battlefords and across the province.
