Baseball association to host junior provincials.
Registration for the Kanata Little League Baseball Association’s 2013 season is open until April 19. Above, Kanata Little League player Brady Rollin, 8, throws the ceremonial first pitch to start the Little League Ontario 2011 Big League Provincial Championship.
File
The Kanata Little League Baseball Association has an exciting 2013 season planned and will host the junior provincial tournament in July this year.
As host, Kanata will automatically be entered into the tournament.
“The provincials are big,” said association president Paul O’Kane. “It’s an honour to be chosen (as host).”
The winner of the tournament will advance to the Canadian Championship, to be held in Lethbridge, Alta.
“These are the best junior-age kids in Ontario that will participate,” said O’Kane.
The Kanata junior team will be chosen in June, he added.
Right now, he said the committee is working hard to ensure everything runs smoothly and is currently looking for sponsors for the event.
The senior district tournament will also be hosted by Kanata, as will the annual Scott Tokessy Memorial Gold Glove Tournament.
“It’s a hundred per cent non-profit tournament with all proceeds going to CHEO,” said O’Kane. “We host teams from all over Ontario, Quebec and the eastern United States.”
The baseball tournament began in 1996 in memory of 11-year-old Scott Tokessy. Three days shy of his birthday, he hit a home run during a game and collapsed in the dugout from an irregular heartbeat.
With numerous tournaments being hosted in Kanata, the association is looking for volunteers to help co-ordinate the events.
“Our volunteer force is going to be very, very busy,” he said. “They’re the bread and butter of making Kanata baseball successful.”
Anyone can volunteer, said O’Kane, adding high school students can receive volunteer hours.
“We will never turn a kid away, but the more our numbers grow, the more help we will need.”
REGISTRATION
Registration for the Kanata Little League Baseball Association’s 2013 season is currently underway.
Early registration for a deduction in fees must be completed by March 18. The final date for in-person registration is March 22 at the Bell Sensplex, from 5 to 8 p.m. with the final date to register set for April 19.
Currently, there are 506 players registered, with a projected growth to 545 this year, said O’Kane.
The association, which offers programs for youth ages four to 19, covers the Kanata, Stittsville, Richmond and Munster Hamlet areas, and recently added two areas from West Carleton this year.
“We have acquired two small new areas around the Carp and Dunrobin area,” said O’Kane.
The spring baseball season begins in May and ends in June, with competitive programs taking place in the summer.
The association hosts its annual Pitch, Hit & Run competition in May, and is open to competitors ages six to 18 at all skill levels.
And for the first time in years, the association has a full executive, which is made up entirely of volunteers:
* President: Paul O’Kane
* Vice-president of house: Jeff Dever
* Vice-president of summer and competitive programs: Mark Bradley
* Vice-president of player development: Dan Kyle
* Registrar: Lynnette Weatherall
* Secretary: Kristin Kyle
* Treasurer: Mark McConnell
“These people are amazing,” said O’Kane. “The time they put in is fantastic.
For more information, to register or volunteer, visit kllba.ca.