The baseball diamonds sit empty and Chris McCurdy wonders why. He wants to renew the once-popular local pastime with the start of a new youth baseball league.
McCurdy, president of the newly-formed Agassiz Baseball Association, hopes to start up this year with a program for kids from 5 to 15 years old.
“It’s ambitious,” he admits.
McCurdy has lived here since 2002. With no kid’s baseball league locally, he started driving his son to Chilliwack three years ago for competitive baseball. Sam, now 12, took to the sport quickly and currently plays on an all-star team in the city.
When asked what Sam likes about the sport, he replies simply: “Everything.”
His favourite positions are centre field and pitching and he he likes that there’s less running than in soccer. It’s challenging, fun and Sam has become friends with his teammates.
McCurdy says while he wants the Agassiz program to help kids like his son get better, he also wants those who have never picked up a bat to feel welcome too.
“There’s a place for all kids on the team,” he says.
It all depends on how many kids are registered for how big this program will be. But ideally, McCurdy is looking to get 12 kids in each age group including Tadpoles (ages 7-9), Mosquitos (ages 9-11), Peewee (ages 11-13) and Bantam (ages 13-15).
Because tee ball players ( 5-7 year olds) won’t travel for games, the ideal for this group would be about 30 kids. That way, they can play each other locally.
Staying local is what the league is all about. With five baseball diamonds beside the Community Recreation & Cultural Centre, the infrastructure is already in place. And McCurdy has a dream that kids here can once again hop on their bikes, glove in their back pocket, and bike to the local diamonds to go play.
“If a kid wants to play hockey or any competitive sport, they have to leave,” McCurdy exclaims. This league will bring the game to the kids instead of the other way around.
The baseball association is in place. The logo has been designed and McCurdy even sports a new jacket designed for the local league. All they need now are players and several more coaches.
Registration opens tomorrow, January 16. Registration forms are available at the rec centre, the Seabird Island band office or on the association’s website at www.agassizll.com. For more information, check out the website or call Chris McCurdy at 604-300-0320.
