Organizers for the 2009 Baseball Canada Cup are feeling good this week after receiving $75,000 from the provincial government to help put on the event.
The tournament will be held in Kindersley the week of Aug. 4-11, 2009.
In announcing the grant to Kindersley Minor Ball, Saskatchewan Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell said that the event “strengthens Saskatchewan’s sports sector and raises our national profile.”
“I would like to recognize the officials, coaches and volunteers whose dedication and support make events such as this possible. Their commitment helps build the quality of life we all enjoy.”
Tell added that the funding is an example of the government’s support for event hosting.
The town’s director of leisure services, Kim Vogel, who also sits on the Canada Cup committee, said much of the money will be used for improvements to Berard Field and Flanagan Field.
“We applied for the money to help put on the event and to supply the ball diamond with upgrades,” she explained. “We started doing some upgrades this past year, including rebuilding the bleachers at both Berard and Flanagan. With this money we’ll be able to provide the capping on the seats, which will make them more aesthetically pleasing and more durable. It’ll provide a legacy for years to come. We (also) purchased two new scoreclocks for the ball diamonds, which are expensive.”
Kindersley Minor Ball president Michelle German was also grateful for the financial boost, calling it a “generous donation.”
“The committee and community of Kindersley are proud to be hosting an event of this calibre,” she said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming many baseball fans from across the country.”
The 2009 Canada Cup will feature approximately 200 high school athletes and 40 coaches. The competition is a key factor in selecting players to try out for the national junior team.
Organizers continue to seek accommodation for parents. Kindersley residents interested in renting space in their homes for the week are asked to contact place2stay09@gmail.com
For more information about the 2009 Canada Cup, please visit baseball.ca/cup.
Josh Lewis
