Over the next week, Battlefords Minor Softball teams from the U7 to U19 level will all have swung into action on the spring 2024 season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Batters Up!

Battlefords Minor Softball sees home-run start to season

May 4, 2024 | 10:00 AM

Following a rapid growth the last two years prior, that saw registration numbers skyrocket between 24 and 25 percent each year, Battlefords Minor Softball Association (BMSA) has seen a similar enrollment to last year this season, showing stability in the recent growth of the sport locally, with another 20 teams this year, between the U7-to-U19 age groups.

“We got a lot of interest and we’ve got a lot of kids playing ball again this year, so it’s awesome to see in the community,” President of BMSA, Darren Russell said. “We’ve even got some kids coming from outside the community to play here because their teams are shutting down or they have small numbers, so they’re coming to join our association and it’s nice to be able to help out that way.”

Likely contributing to the high enrollment in recent years has been the success of the local teams at various age groups, and the increased buzz around the sport that coincides with hosting more major Softball Sask tournaments locally.

The U17 Bandits are fresh off their second provincial championship in the last three years last spring, while the U15s took home silver and the U19s won bronze also on the provincial stage, resulting in the first year ever BMSA has sent three teams to compete at Western Canadian Championships.

Similarly, the growth of the Battlefords as a prime softball tournament destination has seen the community named as host of both U19 provincials and U15 Westerns for this summer.

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“In the last few years, we’ve really been putting our name in the hat for some of these bigger tournaments and making it known on the provincial stage, we’re a softball community,” Russell said.

“Softball Sask has rewarded us with a lot of stuff because we’ve been able to host really well and our community and our facilities down at the flats are amazing. Everyone compliments us when they come here, and Softball Sask has been really supportive of our program.”

The U19 provincials will be held July 12-14, with U15 Westerns Aug. 2-5, both held at the flats in Battleford.

Community support

Russell said as they continue to grow as a destination for larger-scale tournaments, the BMSA is thankful for all the community support that’s allowed them to build their facilities, including a pair of key donations from the Battlefords Associated Canadian Travelers (ACT) and Rotary Club of the Battlefords.

The Battlefords ACT presents a cheque to BMSA to cover half the cost of their electronic scoreboard. Pictured L-R: Nicole Beausoliel, Ryan Beauregard, Sherlynn Berry, Glen Hunter, Terry Mitchell, Don Christopher, Clayton Campbell, Don Dament, and Darren Russell (Missing from ACT are Wayne Lambie and Brian Corley). (Submitted photo/Darren Russell)

The Rotary Club of the Battlefords presents BMSA with a donation to cover the other half of the costs for their electronic scoreboard. Pictured L-R: The Rotary’s Launa Patrick, Harvey Walker, Jean Walker, Rotary President Claudette McGuire, BMSA President Darren Russell, Annette Jangula, John Jangula, Jason Russell, along with a number of BMSA players. (Submitted photo/Darren Russell)

Each contributed donations to cover half of the $7,000 required for a new electronic scoreboard for the flats diamond that will be named in memory of longtime BMSA supporter, Marilyn O’Driscoll.

“The Battlefords ACT club donated half of the money for the scoreboard [at an earlier date] and then just the other day the Rotary Club came in and paid for the other half of it, which was huge,” Russell said.

“We’ve been able to do a few things in the past, like upgrade a lot of our facilities and things like that – we got a new equipment shed, we got a batting cage – but our association can only do so much because we want to be able to keep our registration fees down to get more kids playing ball. We can’t make these upgrades without the community support, so we’d really like to thank them, those associations are appreciated so much.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1