OTTAWA- After a two-year run in Kindersley, Saskatchewan the Baseball Canada Cup moves to Moncton, New Brunswick with play beginning on Wednesday. The event features a select team from all 10 provinces competing for a National Championship. Rosters will showcase some of the most talented 16 and 17 year-old baseball players in the country
“Moncton is getting excited to see the great baseball that will take place over the next week here at Kiwanis Park (in Moncton) and at Page Field in Riverview,” said Tournament Co-Chair, Mike Doucette. “As a Host Committee, we are very excited to see all the hard work that has been put in place over the last 8 months to finally come together.”
The Host Committee hopes that all of their hard work translates into people showing up at the ballpark to witness some of the finest talent in the country. The host hotel is filling up fast with many families, scouts and supporters which should provide some great crowds and a great atmosphere at both ballparks.
“Ticket sales have been going pretty well,” explained Doucette. “We expect to sell most of our tickets at the ballpark when people arrive at the tournament.”
Doucette also says that a special guest might swing by the ballpark to watch the stars of tomorrow compete for a National Championship.
“You might see Matt Stairs (Fredericton, NB) drop by the ball park to take in a game or two,” he said.
Stairs recently retired from baseball after 19-year career in the game including stops in Montréal where he began his career with the Expos and later in Toronto as a member of the Blue Jays.
Moncton and Kiwanis Park are no strangers to hosting large-scale baseball events as the World Junior Baseball Championship took place at Kiwanis Park in 1997 and in 1994 the Baseball Canada Cup (then known as the Blue Jays Cup) called Moncton home.
Seven games are schedule for opening day (Wednesday August 10th) at “The Cup” while the opening ceremonies will precede hometown favourite New Brunswick taking on Nova Scotia, also on Wednesday evening.
Two-time defending champion BC will have their work cut-out for them in Pool A as Ontario will look to avenge last year’s loss in the gold medal game, while Alberta and Québec are always in the medal hunt.
In Pool B, New Brunswick will have the support of the home crowd, but will have to battle rival Nova Scotia along with Manitoba, Saskatchewan, PEI and Newfoundland for the top of the standings and the right to compete in the medal round.
Fans will be able to follow all of the action from the Baseball Canada Cup LIVE courtesy of Pointstreak!
Another great feature added to the event this year will see the Bronze and Gold Medal games on August 14th streamed LIVE courtesy of Bell Aliant!
To find out more information including rosters and schedules, please visit: http://www.baseball.ca/cup/
