OTTAWA- Want to see how your team stacks up against some of the best 35+, 44+ and 50+ baseball teams across the country? Well you can find out this summer by registering for the Canadian National Oldtimers Baseball Championships which takes place August 1st-5th in Edmonton.
The event has been running since 1993 and according to tournament co-chairman Rainie Gervais this event provides a great week baseball that will surely be a highlight on your baseball calendar.
“Some of the teams have been playing together and come to this tournament year after year, making it part of a greater family vacation, while other teams are made of all-star players from the leagues they play in, even going so far as to have tryouts in some cases,” he said. “Teams will be practicing indoors and doing fundraisers over the winter for this trip.”
The tournament has grown in size each year and this year’s tournament is no different as over 40 teams and 600 participants split into three different divisions (35+, 44+, and 50+) will attend.
“The players in the 35+ division tend to be fairly high caliber, with many on each team having played in either US College or low level pro ball,” added Gervais.
Making things even more interesting this year are the Woodslee Orioles who will be going for a three-peat in the 35+ division which has never been accomplished before.
In the 44+ division the Oakville Golden A’s will look to defend their crown, while the Dufferin Simcoe Rockers are the defending champions in the 50+ category.
Games will be played at Telus Field, former home of the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers and site of the 2012 IBAF Women’s World Cup. Other parks playing host to games are located in Edmonton, St. Albert and Spruce Grove.
Whichever the level, the tournament promises to be a fun, competitive and well-run event in one of Western Canada’s most beautiful cities.
“We all still love the game and pride ourselves on playing it at as high a level as father time will let us,” continued Gervais. “Then after the weekend we all still have jobs to go to.”
Registration information and further tournament info can be found at: http://cnobf2013.ca
