Anyone that keeps their eyes on the Ontario harness racing circuit is quite used to seeing the maroon, black and white colours of the McNairs and the red, white and blue colours of the Zerons zipping across the track. Now, would you be surprised to see that outfit on a baseball diamond?

According to an article by Dave Briggs in the Guelph Mercury, Gregg and Doug McNair and Rick and Scott Zeron jumped at an opportunity to help sponsor teams within the Centre Wellington Baseball Association.

Trainer Rousell 'Raz' MacKenzie was the one that presented the sponsorship opportunity to the two racing families, who, in turn, jumped at the chance. The report also explains that Grand River Raceway General Manager Dr. Ted Clarke and breeder/owners Paul and John Simmonds were also quick to get behind the initiative.

In his article, Briggs explains that when the baseball organization, which emphasizes house-league play, made the decision to field some rep teams for the summer, money ended up being very tight for uniforms.

Now, if you keep your eyes on the Centre Wellington Baseball circuit, you will see full squads sporting the McNair and Zeron motif. "They’re wearing our colours with a Team Zed on it,” a grinning Rick Zeron told Briggs.

“It’s for the kids. Raz phoned me up — we’ve been friends for 25 years — and he told me one of his young boys needed a sponsor for his baseball team. So, Scotty and I said, ‘Sure. We’d be more than happy to.’ So, we gave them ample enough money they needed to sponsor his baseball team.”

(With files from the Guelph Mercury)