Baseball has always been a popular pastime of the season in the community. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)
Home run turnout

Battlefords Minor Baseball sees strong registration for season

Apr 14, 2022 | 3:00 PM

With the spring baseball season fast approaching, the Battlefords Minor Baseball Association is gearing up for another strong year on the community diamonds.

Nearing the wrap up of their most well-attended offseason camps yet at the Fieldhouse; where over 80 youth came out to attend this year, Battlefords Minor Baseball president Clint Gieni said the numbers have also been strong in registrations for league play, which they hope to see begin across the board the first week of May.

“Our registrations have been quite strong this year, as at this time we have about 220 kids who are registered up for ball right now following a very successful camp program this year with about as many kids as we’ve ever had for camps,” he said.

Tomorrow, April 15, marks the registration deadline for the minor baseball season, as that allows the organization time to finalize teams, establish coaches and determine leagues, in what Geini referred to as ‘quite a busy two weeks.’

That said, with the most certainty minor ball has seen since the pandemic began, he added that it’s all worthwhile to give the kids a chance to play the games.

“It just makes planning a whole lot easier knowing that there is going to be a season and the work you’re putting in now is going to turn out with players on the ball diamond,” he said. “It’s much nicer to work with that than [the uncertainty of] one day you’re playing and one day you may not. We’re looking forward to the most normal season we’ve had in the last three years.”

Following the spring season, Battlefords Minor Baseball will also be looking to get things rolling on summer camps with the goal of establishing a 15U AAA program, featuring top players from around the nearby region, including the Battlefords, Meadow Lake, Maidstone and Unity among others, as a sort of feeder system to the 18U AAAs.

With at least one — and in some cases multiple — teams in each age group from 11U through 18U expected to take part in provincials this year, the state of minor baseball appears to be in a strong place.

The current baseball camps in progress at the 11U through 15/18U level will wrap next Sunday, Apr. 25 at the Fieldhouse. The Minor Baseball Association is currently looking for parent volunteers to help out with the younger age groups next weekend. More information and registration for the 2022 ball season is available on the Battlefords Minor Baseball website and on their Facebook page.

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

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