Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame and Museum: Edna (Calver) Johnston (Athlete)

Edna Calver was born and raised in Merrydale, Manitoba. After starring as softball pitcher and batter in Brandon schools, she joined the Brandon Olympics in 1932 winning the league title and the provincial championship. 1934-36, she pitched for the St. Vital Tigerettes; 1937-40, the Winnipeg Ramblers. In each of these years, she was named All-Star pitcher. In 1941, she married Brandon, professional hockey player, Verne Johnston, and moved to Sudbury. Here she played with the Sudbury Nickel Belts to win the Northern Ontario Championship and to lose in the final at the Ontario Softball Championships. Several times she and her Sudbury catcher, Jo Walmesy, formerly with the Racine Belles of the U.S. Ladies Professional League, were called to play in Montreal tournaments. After retiring from softball, she continued winning championships in tennis, golf and curling. A gifted athlete who practiced strategically, diligently, intensely.