Montreal grieves loss of celebrated baseball coach Carey Ashton

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Carey Ashton, who helped build the NDG minor baseball program into a provincial powerhouse died peacefully at his home on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his wife and three children. He was 62.

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“You’d look at him and think he was dealt such a terrible hand, but he never looked at it that way,” said Ernie D’Alessandro, a former field manager of the McGill University baseball team who was the first-base coach under Ashton with the NDG Junior Lynx. “I have inspired so many guys. He was a special individual.”

Despite a diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) at age 7, and being confined to a wheelchair from age 19, Ashton became an inspirational leader and communicator with the NDG minor baseball association.

He became manager of the Lynx in 2001. Three years later, he led the club to the first of its six provincial championships — including a string of five consecutive titles between 2006-10. The team was comprised of 13- and 14-year-olds.

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“He was prepared, every practice and game,” D’Alessandro said. “He knew the other team. I don’t know how, but I have studied them. He was a tireless worker, very passionate about his kids. I loved his kids from him and his kids from him loved him back.

“He was a special individual. It’s a big loss.”

Ashton also became a bench coach for the McGill Redbirds and helped guide the team to the 2006 national championship—the university’s first such title.

“He never complained about his handicap,” said Terry Doucet, McGill’s former pitching coach and the director of coaching at NDG “I have to believe there’s a god who’s going to allow him to run the bases at the field of dreams one day.

“He was a great guy to so many people,” Doucet added. “His dedication to the kids and his willingness to study the game, study the rules. I mean, he was sitting in a wheelchair. He was able to move his wrists and arms from him… that was about it. Yet he taught the kids complicated double-play moves. He taught them how to defend against the bunt with various baserunner situations. Complicated stuff.”

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Ashton had a self-deprecating sense of humor and, while managing the Lynx, had his players kneel in front while imparting his wisdom during practices, or between innings of games, so they’d be at eye level. He was a proponent of the team concept, pushing and encouraging them to support each other. He told the best players they were responsible for ensuring the remainder felt they belonged.

D’Alessandro knew immediately upon meeting Ashton he could contribute to the Redbirds and be a valuable member of the staff.

“I fell in love with the guy right away,” he said. “His passion for the game was just tremendous. I knew he could be a big contributor with the knowledge he had.”

While the Lynx never captured a Canadian championship under Ashton, the club reached the title game in 2004 — one win from advancing to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. Ashton was named coach of the year five times, retiring with a managerial record of 305-86-4.

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While COVID-19 meant Ashton had to limit his contacts during the last two years, Doucet visited him briefly before Christmas. Ashton was very weak at that time but, when they spoke by telephone less than a month ago, Ashton was feeling better, his voice stronger, according to Doucet.

D’Alessandro, however, wasn’t as fortunate and never got a proper farewell. “I’m going to miss the fact I won’t get to see him, hug him and tell him that I love him,” he said.

A celebration of Ashton’s life will be held March 24, from 2:30-4 pm, at Urgel Bougie, 1275 Dollard Ave., LaSalle. In lieu of flowers, donations to Muscular Dystrophy Canada, in his name, would be appreciated.

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