Gallagher: Roberge counting blessings after tragedy in hometown in Maine

Former Montreal Expos pitcher Bert Roberge lives in Lewiston, Maine where a man recently killed 18 people in a shooting rampage.

October 29, 2023

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Bert Roberge is counting his blessings.

A decision by the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine to cut off lanes for candlepin bowlers may have saved the life of the former Expos pitcher, one of the city's most familiar sons, during a shooting rampage Oct. 25.

A gunman entered the facility and gunned down a number of people along with people at another establishment, Schemengees Bar and Grille.

Roberge is an avid candlepin bowler and he found out at the end of September that the lanes where he and his brother-law bowled at were being close due to mechanical issues. The 10-pin lanes were still open.

"Had they not closed those lanes, we would have been right in the middle of all that because Wednesday night was the night we bowled,'' Roberge said in an interview. "So, it was obviously very shocking when I heard the news and realized how lucky I might have been.

"You always see these things on TV and never expect it to happen where you live but voila. It sounds like the gunman was there for only a short time so, I don't know if he just stayed by the front desk or moved to where the alleys are. When you first walk in, you face the front desk. Then you would go left for candlepin and right for 10-pin.

"I believe they said there were over 100 people there at the time. I think it could have been definitely worse if that was the only place he would have targeted and stayed there longer. Plus, it was also kids-league night as well.''

Roberge, who pitched for the Expos in 1985-86, said he did not know the killer or any of the victims.

"Many dark days for many families moving forward,'' said Roberge, who has been bowling for decades in Lewiston, which is located not far from the Canadian province of New Brunswick.