THUNDER BAY – The Under-18 Baseball World Cup is four months away and organizers are looking for volunteers.
Thunder Bay International Baseball Association president Larry Hebert on Tuesday said they’re in need of between 400 and 500 people to help out with the event, which was first staged in the city seven years ago.
While Hebert said he expects a number of returnees from 2010, they’ll still need plenty more first-timers to help with everything from ushering in the stands and parking to assisting with drug testing of the athletes as required by the World Baseball Softball Confederaton.
It’s a great way to get up and close with a tournament that the last time it was here sent the likes of Francisco Lindor, Jorge Soler, Albert Almora Jr. and Dalton Pompey to the major leagues.
“This year we may have more of a challenge because it’s after the summer holidays, so we’re going to be short of students because they’re going to be back in school,” Hebert said, noting this year’s event will start on Sept. 1, in order to accommodate Japan’s entry into the tournament.
“It’s going to be a bigger challenge for us, but I’ve had calls from people asking ‘When does it come on line, I want to get on there.’ I don’t think we’re going to have a problem.”
Tournament director Warren Philp said he expects a number of volunteers from 2010 to answer the call in 2017, but they will need more people to step up to the plate, so to speak.
“We hope there are a lot of fresh new faces that come to the table,” Philp said, pointing to groups like SHIFT, the city’s young professional organization, to answer the volunteer call.
“It’s that type of group, students and young people in general who can take a hold of the event and help us build a future beyond 2017,” Philp said.
Tournament officials also on Tuesday announced they had secured a fourth top-level sponsor, bringing Air Canada on board alongside Gold Corp, Canadian National Railway and Tbaytel.
With a $1.5-million operating budget, Philp said they can’t rely solely on government money to stage the event.
Philp added despite last week’s ice storm upgrades to both Baseball Central and Port Arthur Stadium are on pace to meet the WBSC’s deadline.
Ticket packages remain on sale for $199, which Philp said guarantee a grandstand seat at Port Arthur Stadium throughout the U-18s.
To volunteer, visit the tournament site at www.thunderbay2017.com.
