ESTEVAN - Teams from across Western Canada are coming to Estevan from Aug. 18-21 for the Western Canadian Baseball Championships, and Estevan Minor Baseball is applying the finishing touches to be ready.
Nadra Williamson, who co-chairs the event committee alongside Mel Murray, said the field has been set and the schedule is finalized. Games will be played in the U13, U15 and U18 AA divisions, with the host Estevan Brewers joined by the provincial champions from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in each division.
The games for U13 and U15 baseball will be played at Mel Murray Cactus Park, while the U18 games are set for Lynn Prime Park.
In the U13 division, joining the host Brewers will be the North Langley Trappers from B.C., the Camrose Cougars Roy (Alberta), the Maidstone Lakers (Saskatchewan) and the Pembina Hills (Manitoba).
The U15 division will also feature the Carnarvon/Gordon Head South Island Royals (B.C.), the Stettler Storm (Alberta), the Weyburn Beavers (Saskatchewan) and the Midwest team (Manitoba).
In the U18 division, the Brewers will compete against the Vancouver Community Mounties (B.C.), the Edmonton Padres (Alberta), the Assiniboia Aces (Saskatchewan) and the Elwood Giants (Manitoba).
The activities open on Aug. 18 with a coaches’ meeting; a supper for players, coaches and dignitaries at Lynn Prime Park; and the opening ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. at Lynn Prime.
The opening ceremonies will feature the ceremonial opening pitch by members of the 2008 Estevan KPC U18 AAA Blazers, who won the Western Canadian tournament when it was held in Estevan.
The games will be played from Aug. 19-21.
Williamson is looking forward to seeing the great baseball in Estevan.
“This is going to be unreal,” she said. “I hope that all of these kids get to have experiences that will change their futures.”
Williamson has seen the teams from Saskatchewan, since they played the Estevan squads on their way to Westerns.
This isn’t the first time that Estevan has hosted a marquee baseball event in recent years. Earlier this year, Estevan Minor Baseball hosted three provincial tournaments – two at the U11 level and one for U15s – and last year it hosted several provincial championships over two weekends.
Williamson said that experience will be a big help.
“I’ve been able to use a lot of the organizational skills from those and pass them along to this,” she said.
But it will be different this time because two separate facilities will be in use, whereas with the provincial tournaments, all games were at Mel Murray Cactus Park.
“It’s doubled up the number of volunteers needed, so it’s quite a bit more difficult, but we will make it happen,” said Williamson.
The facilities are in great shape heading into Westerns, as Murray and his crew have been working hard on maintenance.
Williamson projected the tournament will bring hundreds of people to Estevan, which will be great for the local economy.
“I expect to see restaurants and stores benefit from all of the out-of-town people. They will have to find things to do in between games, and hopefully will take in our lovely town,” she said.
They have volunteers lined up, but they could still use more. In particular, they are looking for someone who could step up as an announcer and make the games even more fun for the players and the spectators.
She added that without the sponsors, they wouldn’t have been able to make this tournament and the other events this summer happen.
