North Coast Minor Baseball making plans for mid April play

As we turn the corner from winter to spring, the sound of bats and balls will soon be echoing across the fields of Prince Rupert and Port Edward with the North Coast Minor Baseball Association ready to play ball for their third season of operation.

Open to boys and girls ages of 4 to 13 the incubator for potential big leaguers will take to the field on April 22nd offering four different categories for the youngsters on the North Coast to learn their craft.

The ten week season which runs from April to June provides for ample opportunity to develop baseball skills in a fun environment., with the schedule designed as best it can to avoid conflicts with many of the other Spring activities available for Prince Rupert youth.

For youngsters with birth years of 2013 and 2014 there is BLASTBALL.

Those in Grades 1 or 2, (Birth years of 2011 and 2012) can tee it up with TEEBALL

JUNIOR BASEBALL introduces players to pitching and isdesigned for those in Grade 3 or 4 and born in 2009 and 2010.

And for those in Grade Five and over (birth years of 2005-2008) INTERMEDIATE BASEBALL makes the jump to pitching and a faster pace of play.

The North Coast Baseball Association makes use of two fields the newly refurbished Doug Kerr Field at the Civic Centre and the North Coast's field of dreams that is the McKeown Field in Port Edward, with the District of Port Edward quick to support the league when it started three years ago.

The younger groups make use of the Doug Kerr Field, Junior Baseball is scheduled for a mix of both fields, while the Intermediate Division for the most part digs into the mound and batters box in Port Edward.

All photos above courtesy of North Coast Baseball Association

Like many of the city's amateur sports, volunteers are key to the success for baseball on the North Coast and the Association is always looking for help this year seeking out coaches, umpires and managers as well as for a number of other roles with the sport in the region.

Registration is ongoing through the North Coast Baseball Association Website.

The success of the Association so far comes through the work of its volunteers and the sponsorship of these Prince Rupert and Port Edward businesses and organizations.

As the season moves ahead, we'll keep an eye on how things are going and update our archive with notes of interest on the baseball scene.

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