Hudson Bay was a busy spot as they welcomed baseball players from across the province for the Twilite Masters Provincial Championships.
The July 21-23 tournament was a 45 team event featuring seven teams from across the province including the Yorkton Orioles, Riverhurst Thumpers, Eden Valley Senators, Estevan Drillers, Hudson Bay Jaks, Parkland Padres, and North East Selects.
Mel Cadrain, the tournament organizer, noted that hosting the tournament was a great opportunity to showcase the great facilities in Hudson Bay, and was also a great way to bring baseball to town.
“The local folks always enjoy going out to watch a few ball games because there’s not a whole lot of things to do in the summer in Hudson Bay.”
Cadrain thought it was also a good way to keep baseball alive in the small towns as it can be used to showcase the sports to the young kids.
“It’s a game that you can play well into your 40’s and 50’s and still enjoy it and play at a reasonable level, have some fun, and generate some interest hopefully for the folks in the minor ball program at the same time.“
Cadrain said the tournament went well, despite running into a minor hiccup due to weather.
After heavy rains hit the area on Friday night, the ball diamonds used for the tournament were deemed unplayable on Saturday, forcing the organizing committee to move the tournament down the road to the Hudson Bay Regional Park.
They then had to quickly prepare the fields for use and were ready to get back underway at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
In order to make sure the tournament could be finished during the weekend, the decision was made to shorten the game from six innings to five, and the tournament was smooth sailing from then on, said Cadrain.
Cadrain said having the regional park facilities so close to town was a big benefit, noting that it was work done by a committee ten years ago to reshale all of the ball diamonds in town that ended up saving the day.
“We were just thinking back, saying if we hadn’t of done that, here’s an example that this type of tournament would have never got played.”
The volunteers played a big role in the success of the tournament, said Cadrain, who notes there was a lot of work to be done in preparation for the field change including raking, lining, picking rocks, moving the concession, and the beer gardens, among other things.
When the tournament was all said and done a pair of local teams captured championships with the Selects knocking off the Orioles 12-6 in the final to win the A-Side championship and the Jaks knocking off the Senators 6-1 in the final to win the B-Side title.
