Strathmore baseball eyeing another great year

Justin Seward

Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Minor Baseball Association held their annual general meeting (AGM) in the Chuck Mercer Room at the Strathmore Civic Centre on April 4, officially kicking off a new season.
The association had 400 kids sign up for ball last season and are close to that number again; this is an encouraging sign for newly elected president Trevor Jensen because he’s seen an increase in younger kids come out and try the game.
As a result, the mosquito numbers will be up between 15 and 18 kids over last year, while there will be two peewee double-A teams this year, which he feels will be both competitive.
“Other than that for me it’s good to see some hockey kids coming out finally,” said Jensen. “Some kids play inline hockey, some play lacrosse and now they’re trying a new sport. I think because the Blue Jays did so well and the growth in baseball in Canada last fall, the exposure grew for minor ball leagues grew around Alberta.”
Jensen, who was involved in structured minor hockey evaluations, said he would implement the same process for the baseball players to make sure the kids in their proper place.
He added that there wouldn’t be changes made right away other than to grow the sport in Strathmore and get the town to provide more diamonds in the area.
It has been a concern in the community because there are 400 kids registered in ball and only one town-owned diamond.
“We’re doubling and tripling up,” said Jensen. “We had one time where we had four teams on the same diamond for practices starting at 5 p.m. and that’s not adequate.”
There is hope that at least one team will host provincials this year.