Batter up!

From July 29 to August 1, Sylvan Lake will host the best of the Province’s Midget ‘AA’ baseball players, as provincials are set to be held in Sylvan Lake for the first time at Four Season’sPark. The host team, the Sylvan Lake Blue Jays will challenge the Heisler Jr. Cards, the Vegreville Bears, the Bawlf Outlaws and the Team Alberta Women for Tier 5 provincial supremacy.

According to Coach Mike Nesbitt, the road to provincials was a fortuitous one.

“We played in our community league and then we took our two community teams and built one team out of the best players,” he said. “After playing league every other weekend – we got ranked in the Tier 5.

“We applied to host provincials and then we beat out Bawlf, AB to host,” he said, adding that the challenge for the parents and volunteers is to ensure everything is prepared for the weekend. The tournament will be a first for the Town of Sylvan Lake and according to Nesbitt, the Town’s administration has been crucial.

“The Town has been really good,” he said. “Sylvan Lake has never had Midget ‘AA’ baseball, with that in mind – the Town has been really good helping us get everything up to spec.”

The Blue Jays are set to be a very competitive team and are currently fine tuning their skills in order to shine under the big lights during provincials.

“We are a very athletic team, but we are still learning the game,” Nesbitt said. “We are taking these kids right from the basics of learning how to play baseball and they have done a really good job. They have been really impressive.

“We should be there at the end I’m hoping,” he said, adding that the competition this year has been very good – especially against Bawlf and Heisler.

“Anyone can win this tournament including the Team Alberta Women,” Nesbitt said. “They are a very strong fundamental team.”

Nesbitt was thrilled for Sylvan Lake to host the Tier 5 Provincials adding that it is very exciting baseball.

If you would like more information about the tournament, or if you would like to see the schedule – you can go to baseballalberta.com. The Sylvan Lake Blue Jays first game is Friday, July29 at 9 a.m. against the Heisler Jr. Cards.

Nesbitt added that it is very competitive baseball. No one is going to blow anyone out and it is very high calibre.

The Blue Jays schedule is:

July29 –

9 a.m vs. Heisler Jr. Cards

6 p.m. vs. Vegreville Bears

July 30 –

3 p.m. vs. Team Alberta Women

July 31 –

12 p.m. vs Bawlf Outlaws

Playoffs to follow.

reporter@sylvanlakenews.com