Powell River Minor Baseball Association’s two rep teams have been busy against Vancouver Island opposition, playing some close games and recording some wins along the way.
Brenden Frehlich, president of Powell River Minor Baseball Association, said the U13s and U15s have been busy the last couple of weeks, with home and away games.
This past weekend, the U15s travelled to Vancouver Island for a couple of doubleheaders, first playing in Ladysmith against the team from Duncan on July 12.
“We lost the first game by one run and we won the second game by a few runs,” said Frehlich. “Then, we went to Nanaimo on July 13 for another doubleheader. We lost by one run in the first game and by a couple runs in the second game.
“We were in every game, which is a positive. We weren’t blown out, but you hate to see those ones slip away at the end. The kids got to see a couple of new ballparks and they are improving. The competition is stiff and our players are hanging in there with them.”
Frehlich said some of the teams from larger cities on Vancouver Island have a lot of players to select from, and the Powell River players are going up against some triple A players, in some cases, so it’s nice to be competitive.
“We will keep practising, and hopefully, make it through the zone playoffs to get a shot at the provincials, which, this summer, will be held in Oceanside, which is Parksville/Qualicum,” said Frehlich. “The host team will get to play in the provincials, and one other island team will as well. We’ve got some work to do, so hopefully, we can give it a shot.”
On July 5, the U15s had two home games at Larry Gouthro Park against the Nanaimo team that they played on July 13. Powell River beat Nanaimo twice in the doubleheader.
“The first game was close,” said Frehlich. “We were last at bat and we were down a run, but we came back and won. The second game we won pretty handily.”
Frehlich said the latest results against Nanaimo, with Powell River splitting the two series, was great, given the population of Nanaimo, having many more players to draw on.
Weather conditions this past weekend were hot, but Frehlich said the players were well hydrated, and the players were able to find some shade.
“They hung in there and it was a fun time,” added Frehlich.
As for the U13s, they played a home doubleheader at DA Evans Park against Campbell River on July 12, losing both games. Frehlich said the first game was close and in the second one, they lost by a bigger margin.
On July 13, the U13s travelled to Duncan, playing against Ladysmith. Powell River won that game 14-10. Powell River played Campbell River again the same day, losing to the North Island team once again.
This coming weekend, the U13s have July 19 off, but the following day, they will head to Campbell River on July 20. The U15s go to Port Alberni on July 19 for a double header, and the following day, will be playing in Duncan against Duncan and Nanaimo in a mini tournament, where each team will get two games.
“Everyone will play each other once,” said Frehlich.
He said rep baseball is doing well because the teams have players who are committed, and some really big supporters, including coaches, parents and volunteers who are cooking food and grooming the fields, helping the players get ready, and other activities.
“It’s really nice to see,” said Frehlich. “We’re getting a lot of positive feedback from the community, such as it’s great to see baseball back in Powell River. So, there’s a lot of baseball fans out there, even though it has been pretty quiet for a number of years. There’s been a lot of slo-pitch, but to see kids playing minor baseball again in the summer is something we haven’t seen for a while.”
Frehlich said local minor baseball has great facilities, and the experience at DA Evans Park was so enjoyable that Campbell River wanted to return after the U13 tournament earlier this year because they liked the park so much.
“They said: ‘can we come back?’ So, we scheduled that doubleheader this past Saturday,” said Frehlich.
He said it is hoped that minor baseball can expand in the community. Work is being done to put together a U11 team and get it competing.
Frehlich said the rep teams are competing through BC Minor Baseball, which is strict in terms of governing play. He said coaches take training and clinics through the national coaches certification program to be able to roster a team.
“The coaches have to be certified to a certain level, based on what age they are coaching, before they can field a team,” said Frehlich. “Your team is then in a zone, and you have a mini league with the other teams in the zone. You cooperate with the other teams and schedules are made. In the U15s, for example, we have Nanaimo, Duncan, Victoria, Alberni Valley and Oceanside. We’ve got to get through all those teams to make it to the provincials.”
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