Blame the Blue Jays, blame the bat flip: baseball is back in the Bow Valley.
Registration numbers for little league have jumped to 140 young athletes (up from 20 players five years ago), as the sport is undergoing a resurgence in Canmore.
Five years ago, the Town was exploring other uses for ball diamonds, but the surge appears to have saved the fields for now.
League Operations Manager Barb Ostman said word of mouth, strong programming and interest in the Jays is all contributing to the renaissance of Bow Valley baseball. She knew the program was in for a boost when practices at the Our Lady of the Snows field began attracting more and more attention from soccer parents.
“Every time we practiced there, there were also 50 or 60 kids playing soccer with their parents. They would all come over to see what we were up to,” Ostman said.
Spring league play kicks off this week at the t-ball, coach pitch, minor/major, junior and senior level, with games for those aged four to 16. Registration has closed for this 12-game season, but Ostman said the program could continue to expand in the future.
Linda and Vince Stock kept the league going for years for t-ball and coach pitch games, while Ostman became involved seven years ago. In 2011, a minor/major team was pulled together, and began interlocking with a Cochrane league. By 2014, a junior team was formed for 13-14 year olds to play interlocking games with Calgary and a senior program will begin this year.
“We’ve managed to cultivate the kids all the way through,” Ostman said.
As league numbers increased, so did requirements. Equipment, uniforms and other items are required, and grants are beginning to come through. Teams now play at Elk Run, OLS and Millennium field ball diamonds and, since interest is growing in Banff, there is an expansion possibility there as well. The league still needs to find more umpires, as there is currently only one in the Bow Valley.
“I do have a number of kids out of Banff,” Ostman said.
Many of the new players come from hockey backgrounds, as the sports compliment each other quite well. The short season is appealing, Ostman said, and word of mouth spreads quickly on the teams.
Ostman said the league is now large enough to form a board, as it is looking for baseball enthusiasts to help the programs grow.
Those interested can email Ostman at [email protected].
