Reginald Underwood facts for kids
Reginald "Reg" Underwood is a famous athlete from the Tsawout First Nation near Victoria, British Columbia. He became well-known as an amazing softball player, usually playing in the outfield. Reg played for the Victoria Bate team from 1974 to 1984.
A Champion with the Victoria Bate Team
During his time with the Victoria Bate team, Reg helped them achieve many successes. They won 10 Provincial Championships and 6 National Championships. The team also won the 1979 Pan American Games, which is a huge sports event for North and South America.
In 1976, the Victoria Bate team was named Co-World Champions at the World Championships in Wellington, New Zealand. Twelve nations competed, but bad weather stopped the tournament before it could finish. Because of this, the title was shared between the teams that made it to the semi-finals: Canada, New Zealand, and the USA. The Victoria Bate team was special because it was the only club team (a team not made of "all-star" players from different clubs) to ever win the World Championships. After 1976, only all-star teams were allowed to compete at the World Championships. The team Reg played on in 1975 and 1976 was even inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1990!
Reg's Personal Achievements
Reginald Underwood was also recognized for his individual skills. He was named an All-Star at the National Championships in 1976, 1981, 1982, and 1983. He had a great batting average of over .300 throughout his career.
Beyond playing, Reg also spent time helping younger players improve their softball skills. In 1976, he received the national Tom Longboat Award. This award recognized his achievements not just in softball, but also in basketball, track and field, bowling, and rugby. Reg was truly talented in many sports! He also led his teams to win 2 Senior B Provincial titles, 2 Master Provincial titles, and 3 Western Canadian Master Championships. Interestingly, his sister, Vivian Underwood, also won the regional Tom Longboat Award in 1964.
Continued Recognition
Reginald continued to play softball for many years after leaving the Victoria Bate team. Softball BC named him Athlete of the Year in both 1998 and 2003, showing his lasting impact on the sport.
He has also been honored by being inducted into several Halls of Fame:
- Softball BC Hall of Fame in 1993
- Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1996
- Softball Canada Hall of Fame in 1998
In the Softball Canada Hall of Fame, two other Tom Longboat Award winners, Darren Zack and Phyllis Bomberry, were also recognized in 2009 for their achievements.
