Article contentIn Lockhart’s first full season, Kentville won the 1999 championship and repeated in 2000.Article content“That was a special team,” Lockhart said, noting the intense practices the team would have. “We pushed each other.”Article contentArticle contentLearning from vetsArticle contentThe Wildcats were a driven group made up of local players. Lockhart deferred to the veterans and soaked in as much as he could.Article content“I learned how to hit, really,” he said.Article contentIt is almost hard to fathom those words, but Lockhart said he was skinny growing up and needed to get stronger. The three years in Hantsport helped but so did being observant. Being around the veterans and seeing how much energy they invested to improve showed the youngster what was possible.Article content“I was never a good fastball hitter because I just couldn’t catch up to really good fastballs. But I could pick up curveballs, so a lot of times I’d track it and hit it the other way.”Article contentArticle contentIt appears the scouting report didn’t make it around the league.Article contentLockhart went onto win three batting titles and three league MVP awards while holding the Wildcats’ all-time hits record of 747 during his 19-year career. In 2007, he was named the shortstop for the all-star team through the league’s first 30 seasons.Article contentAnd while the numbers are impressive, the timing of the hits was crucial.Article content“He’s a great contact hitter, clutch hitter,” said John Ansara, the Wildcats’ player/coach. “That’s why he’s got his number out there because he was a guy that would get that hit for ya.”Article contentArticle contentCornerstone playerArticle contentAnsara joined the team after moving to the Annapolis Valley from Ontario in 2009 for work.Article content“I would just show up and try and do my job and essentially keep quiet and do what was asked of me,” he recalled. “You pick up pretty quickly on who the leaders of the team and who the best players are, and you knew right away it was Ian.”Article contentArticle contentThe third baseman played next to the team’s cornerstone for years and admired many of his qualities. They included a deep passion for the sport, a desire to win, leadership ability and the agility to play a demanding defensive position as a big man.Article content“My biggest admiration for Ian was the way he approached the game,” Ansara said. “He expected the best and he was so competitive and wanted to win.”Article contentIan Lockhart and his two sons throw out the ceremonial pitches on Sept. 28 as he was inducted into the @KWildcats22 Hall of Fame. The shortstop was ultra competitive and a great teammate, who was respected by his peers across the province. pic.twitter.com/rKm0dS6YgV— Jason Malloy (@JasonMa47772994) October 7, 2025
Ian Lockhart inducted into Kentville Wildcats Hall of Fame in hometown
