It was fabulous news as the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association revealed that it had won the bid to host the 2017 under-18 World Championships.
This is the same event that used to be called the World Juniors, which we successfully staged here in July of 2010.
Our community's ability to host major sporting events is well proven.
The list includes the 1981 Canada Summer Games, the 1995 Nordic World Skiing championships, the 1996 Scott Tournament of Hearts and the 1998 World Junior curling championships, and two National University hockey championship tournaments. The common denominator is the city's incredible spirit of volunteerism.
Organizers of the 2017 event say they will need about 400 people to fill in various roles. I don't think that will be a problem at all.
The eyes of the baseball world will be upon us in the summer of 2017, and there is no doubt the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association and our city will deliver another very successful event.
But, it would be a bonus if the excitement that starts building for 2017, translates into increased support attendance-wise for the Border Cats who will be opening the new Northwoods League season in late May.
