While the frigid winter temperatures 诲辞苍鈥檛 necessarily conjure up thoughts of base hits and strikeouts, 麻豆精选 Minor Fastball is already ramping up for a busy 2017 at High Noon Park.
麻豆精选 will play host to 10 tournaments this spring and summer, culminating with the Softball B.C. U18 B provincial championship, July 15 to 17.
Ninety teams are already confirmed for tournaments in 2017, with as many as 150 travel teams expected to make their way to 麻豆精选 from across B.C. and Alberta.
The season will kick off April 15 and 16 with the U14, U16 and U18 Open Ice Breaker event featuring 24 迟别补尘蝉鈥�17 of those from Alberta.
Over the years, 麻豆精选 has built a reputation as one of Western 颁补苍补诲补鈥檚 hotbeds for girls fastball tournaments.
鈥淧别辞辫濒别 know that we put on really good tournaments, and the word just seems to 蝉辫谤别补诲,鈥� said 麻豆精选 Minor Fastball president Darren Bennett. 鈥泪 肠补苍鈥檛 imagine 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 any other association around that is offering more for girls fastball.
鈥泪t helps too that 麻豆精选 is a real travel destination and people like to come 丑别谤别.鈥�
麻豆精选 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 currently field either U14 or U16 rep programs, but will be hosting tournaments for both age groups on successive weekends this spring at High Noon Park, April 28 to 30 and May 5 to 7.
At the house and rep levels, registration for 麻豆精选 Minor Fastball was up about five per cent last season, with more than 150 girls playing the sport.
The biggest jump came at the U10 house level as more than 30 kids signed up, a trend Bennett would no doubt like to see continue this season.
鈥淲别 want younger kids playing the game and that increase last year was huge for 耻蝉,鈥� said Bennett, who also coaches the 麻豆精选 Heat U18 B rep team. 鈥淲别 want to attract kids to playing ball early, and we want to keep them engaged so 迟丑别测鈥檒濒 stay involved.
鈥泪t鈥檚 really a social 蝉辫辞谤迟,鈥� he added. 鈥淭丑别 girls and their families come together for those weekend tournaments and it can be a lot of 蹿耻苍.鈥�
In all, Bennett hopes to see at least 170 players register to play fastball in 麻豆精选 this year.
Indoor training for local players will begin later this month at the Capital News Centre.
Player registration is open until March 7, with teams in all age groups to be formed a few days later. The 2017 season begins in mid-April. To register or for more information go to kelownafastball.ca.
麻豆精选 Minor Fastball is also looking for umpires for the upcoming season, particularly for tournaments.
For more information regarding umpires, send an email to admin@kelownafastball.ca.
