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P.A. softball diamonds named in memory of young sports fan

Jun 10, 2016 | 5:32 PM

Softball diamonds in Prime Minister’s Park will be given new names and a new lease on life, thanks to donations from the community. Project Triple Play has teamed up with community partners to upgrade existing diamonds and build new ones in time for Prince Albert to host the 2018 Junior Men’s Worlds.

The Max Power Ball Park was named after baseball player and all-around sports fan Max Clunie, who, at 15-years-old, was killed in a plane crash. Uncle Jayson Clunie said the family was happy to help the city in memory of his nephew, Max.

 “We value Prince Albert as part of our lives, our son’s life, and our family’s life. Being able to help the community build another facility or improve a facility so that it can expand what it can host is pretty near and dear to our hearts,” Jayson Clunie said.

Project Triple Play plans to upgrade the three existing softball diamonds in Prime Minsters Park, as well as add a new feature field. Both existing diamond #2 and the new feature field will have an outfield expansion of 250 feet and additional lighting. The new diamond will be added south of the Summer Games Building.

One of the biggest reasons for excitement according to Clunie is in the economic prospects the ball diamonds can bring.

“With people coming to town, it spurs the economy. It gets the hotels filled, it gets people in the restaurants, and they visit our shopping centers,” Clunie said. “It brings people to Prince Albert to see what we’re all about.”

The project is close to its $1.4 million goal. Kalen Kovitch, co-chair of Project Triple Play, said the Max Power Ball Park will soon be ready for next season and ultimately the 2018 Junior Men’s Worlds.

Construction of the ball park will begin September 6, and wrap up before the end of October, well in time for the 2017 ball season.

 

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On twitter: @BryanEneas