Nick was born in Portage La Prairie in 1919. As youth, he played baseball, hockey and football; as adult, fastball and slo-pitch. After the Central Manitoba Intermediate A Fastball League was formed in 1950 and expanded to 4 teams in 1951, the Portage Mercurys recruited him as their coach in 1953. He soon established a fastball dynasty that repeatedly won league and provincial championships for the next 11 years. From 1953-63, they won the league championship 9 of 11 times. As well, the team captured 5 Provincial Intermediate A titles. In 1966, he retired from his highly successful fastball, coaching career. In 1981, the Manitoba Softball Association awarded him with a Long Service Award.


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