The 2013 Canadian Senior Little League Baseball Championship is headed to the city this summer and on Thursday District 3 Little League got a $2,000 boost from the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association to help cover the costs.
Dave Mack, co-chairman of the national event, said the money, donated from the proceeds of the 2010 World Junior Baseball Championship, represents about 10 per cent of the organization’s $20,000 budget to stage the event in Thunder Bay.
It’ll be used to help house players, cover food costs and pay for umpires, when the country’s seven best senior little league teams, including a host spot for Thunder Bay, descend on the city starting July 31.
It’s a pretty prestigious event to land, Mack said.
“Between coaches, teams and players, we’re expecting about 120 people to come in, plus parents, families and supporters,” Mack said. “So we’re expecting more than 200 people to visit Thunder Bay for the event.
“And the winner of this event will go to Bangor, Me. to represent Canada at the Little League World Series.”
Thunder Bay hosted the provincial qualifying event last year, with both local entries advancing to the final.
“It’s a big help for us. Right now we’re relying on the support of the local business community to help us with some fundraising opportunities,” he said. “This gives us a leg up on the event, because there’s a $5,000 entry fee we have to pay Little League to host it. So this is quite a bit of money for a small organization like us.”
District 3 Little League wasn’t the only recipient of TBIBA’s largesse.
The Thunder Bay Umpires Association got $1,000 to help develop umpiring in the city, while Lakehead University’s baseball program and the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board shared a $2,000 grant to continue Partners in Sport, launched last year as a way expose different sports to students age 9 to 12.
Jason Hart, coach of LU’s baseball team, said the money is important.
“What it helps us to do is get baseball to a broader number. With the Catholic School Board, we’re able to put on mini baseball camps. They were fun because they were 20-minute camps. We set up the pitching mounds, got the whiffle balls out and the kids got to come and we had a lot of fun,” Hart said.
“It was quite challenging, as far as the time, and that’s why this award really helps us to give back to our university players to make it a worthwhile thing for them to come out and give back,” he said.
Larry Hebert, president of the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association president said they’re only too happy to give back to the community too.
“It’s carrying on the baseball legacy and baseball development in Thunder Bay and area,” Hebert said. “Last year we gave $5,000 to Pro Kids to help people who can’t necessarily afford to play baseball. This year three deserving groups applied.”
