“Get to know your PSO (Provincial Sport Office)” is a new feature on baseball.ca that will provide an informative look at each of the ten Provincial Baseball Organizations throughout Canada. The 2014 baseball season has already begun for some provinces, while others are still counting down the days until they can get on the field. Either way, baseball season is upon us so let’s take a closer look at the organizations that help bring baseball to communities across our country!
British Columbia
The facts…
Name of PSO: BC Amateur Baseball Association
Executive Director: David Laing
Number of staff members: 2 (Adding 3rd staff member in 2014)
Number of Board members: 12
National Championship highlight: Winning a total of 20 medals in 24-year history of Baseball Canada Cup, including consecutive gold medals from 1995-1997 and back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010
Major Awards: Province of the Year (1993, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010)
Membership: Seven member organizations that includes everyone playing the sport in the province of BC
Annual Provincial championship events: 25 Championships between BC Minor, Little League, Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken, Premier / College, Junior, Senior,
Most notable baseball player to come out of province: Larry Walker
Famous non-baseball alumni: Christine Sinclair, Steve Nash
Three things to watch for in 2014:
1. Rally Cap introduced as the mandatory entry-level program in BC Minor
“This will allow us to fully integrate this program for all (initiation) athletes province wide,” said Baseball BC Executive Director, David Laing. “It is expected that this will positively impact both registration numbers and skill development for all of our athletes moving forward.”
2. Girls Baseball Program experiencing growth ‘in leaps and bounds’
“Our 13U Girls Selects team will play the 13U summer season, as a team, against all boys teams and our 16U Selects will again play the summer season against all boys 15U teams, and will Co-Host the Provincial Championships,” added Laing.
The addition of a 20U team at the senior level will allow more players the opportunity to participate in a National Championship in 2014.
“We have added a 20U Girls team that will participate in the Senior Women Invitational in August and also play in the 15U Double-A summer season against all boys teams,” explained Laing. “Our BC Selects Women’s Team will play host to the 2014 National Championships in August in Surrey.”
3. PED Testing Program implemented for the BC Premier Baseball League
“Baseball BC, in conjunction with the BC Premier Baseball League, has launched a Performance Enhancing Drugs Testing Program that will focus on Education and Prevention for all of our High Performance Athletes.”
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