Brian Lampitt, a Battleford native, will be inducted into the individual category of the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame Saturday as a player.
Lampitt was born Feb. 9, 1953. He was the youngest son of Bob and Tillie Lampitt. His father was a well-known pitcher in the Lloydminster area and his mother was known as one of the best female fastball players in Saskatchewan. His older brothers, Gary and Neil, were also known for their baseball prowess, so it made sense that Brian could often be found on the makeshift ball diamond between the Catholic and United churches, spending many hours pitching, catching, and hitting.
Neil was inducted into the hall of fame in 2007. The Lampitt family was inducted into the Family Category in 2003
At the age of six, Brian's baseball career began in North Battleford, where he played for the Giants and later the Dodgers, coached by Ken Nelson Sr. In his time in the North Battleford minor baseball system, Lampitt developed and honed the skills that made him one of the top pitchers and batters in the league. Later, attending school in Battleford, he joined the BCYC Angels as a bantam. The team won a provincial title in 1967 under coach Willie Rasher.
In 1968, Lampitt played for the North Battleford Midget Beavers coached by John Ford and Ken Nelson Sr. As a key member of the pitching staff and a top hitter, he helped the Beavers win the provincial midget championship, making for his second championship in as many seasons.
The following year, Lampitt graduated to the Junior Beavers, who were very successful in the late 1960s and early '70s. They hosted the 1971 Canadian Junior Baseball Championship at Beaver Lions Stadium.
In the 1972 provincials, the Junior Beavers were defeated in a three-game series in the northern final by the Saskatoon Commodores. The lone victory for the Beavers came when Lampitt threw a four-hitter and shut down the opposition with authority. Impressed by the performance, the Commodores picked him up after the series to help them continue their provincial championship quest against the southern champion Regina Maroons. The Maroons defeated the Commodores, but again the lone victory came in a four-hit, 11-strikeout performance pitched by Lampitt. Again, the winning team was so impressed with him that they picked him up for their run at the National Junior Championships in Pointe Aux-Trembles, Que. Although the team didn't medal, Lampitt had a strong showing.
The North Battleford Senior Beavers hosted the 1974 Canadian Senior Baseball Championship, and as one of their youngest players, Lampitt represented himself well. The host Beavers made it all the way to the semifinals where they were defeated by Nova Scotia, a team they'd beaten earlier in the tournament.
In 1975, an intermediate all-star team was formed consisting of players from the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League and several players from Wilkie. The team was known as the Wilkie Brewers and competed at the Western Canadian Championships representing Saskatchewan in the tournament that was held in Watrous. Lampitt received the trophy for the best hitter at the westerns.
He was at the Western Canadian Championships again in 1978 as a member of the North Battleford Intermediate Beavers of the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League. Again he represented Saskatchewan well as the team's top hitter.
Lampitt continued to play competitive baseball with the Beavers until the mid-1980s when family and work commitments made it difficult to play on a regular basis. He remained active in baseball into the mid-1990s and coached his son Brennan who currently plays for the North Battleford Beavers.
A born athlete, Brian is now one of the top competitive golfers in North Battleford. He won the 2011 Senior Club Championship. He continues to have a successful career in real estate and demonstrates that. In whatever endeavors he pursues on or off the baseball diamond, he finds a great deal of success.
