The chance to play actual baseball and not just slo-pitch or softball is catching on with adult men throughout the area.
With the Chemainus Ball Park’s Larry Irving Field as home base, the East Vancouver Island Baseball League has completed a successful first season with expansion plans in the works.
Organizer and player Heath Fenton sees no reason why the league can’t double in size from two teams to four next season. The Comox Valley has a long-standing league with eight teams and the Alberni Valley has four, and Fenton would like to make four teams a reality here.
“We’re looking for players who want to play real baseball,” he enthused.
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There’s no age limit or minimum, although younger guys still playing at a high level in the college ranks need not apply. But those with college baseball experience at any age who haven’t played for a while are certainly welcome, along with others from varied backgrounds in the game.
The EVIBL season concluded with the Stuart Channel Blue Heron winning 10 of the 15 games against the Yellow Point Vultures. The team names aren’t indicative of the home residences of the players, but are randomly selected as noticeable locations around the region.
There’s one final get-together Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Chemainus Ball Park at 2 p.m. when Blue Heron and Vultures players will mix up the teams for an exhibition game. It’s also a chance for others interested in playing next season to express their interest.
Fenton can also be contacted by cell at 236-333-6233 or email at vocalistheathfenton@gmail.com. There’s more information for prospective players on the league’s Facebook page by clicking here.
“I’m easy to find, easy to get a hold of,” said Fenton. “I just want to get the word out, early bird gets the worm.”
In anticipation of expansion, “I’ve already got the team names,” he added.
For now, he’s keeping that under wraps.
It was a busy summer for Fenton as the commissioner to keep things running smoothly with the league, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’m having fun doing it,” he said.
It also took a lot of other people to make the season such a success.
“Thank you everyone who came out to watch the games,” Fenton added on a Facebook post. “Thank you to all the sponsors to help get this going. Thank you umpires and scorekeepers. And, of course, thank you to our players for making this happen.”