P.A. calls for world-class ball diamond

This has led to organizers calling it “Project Triple Play.”

On Tuesday, Ian Litzenberger spoke to a small crowd at City Hall, announcing ADFO’s efforts to gain comprehensive sponsorship to “make these events a reality.”

The upgrades to the existing diamond #2 in Prime Minister’s Park are necessary to host the Worlds, under International Softball Federation (ISF) standards.

Facilities must be lit to play at night, and have fields with 250 feet between the home plate and the home run fence. Currently, the field is a bit too short.

Ground broken on the new facility will lead to 1,200-stadium seats, a new score clock, and lights, said Kalen Kovitch, Project Triple Play’s sponsorship and marketing co-ordinator.

“The brand new facility will be, right from the ground up, a softball stadium similar to what you would see in centres like Saskatoon or out on the island on Victoria,” he said.

The Junior Men’s Worlds are fitting for Prince Albert, which has sent 11 athletes from its softball program to the same event with Team Canada.

“Comparatively in Canada, no other community can boast that they’ve sent that many of their athletes to Team Canada to that one tournament,” Kovitch said.

He explained ADFO is still considered a bidder to host the tournament, but the odds are strongly in our favour.

“Canada and Saskatchewan have a very good reputation with the ISF. If Canada says they like to host an event, that’s great. If Saskatchewan says they’d like to host an event it’s ‘what can we do to get it to you.’”

The formal meeting with ISF comes later this year and the upgrades need to be done by 2017 to host the event.

Mayor Greg Dionne spoke about why the City supports this bid.

“It gives something for our kids to aspire to. It’s always great that you play a sport when you see that you can move up the ladder,” Dionne said.

He acknowledged the efforts needed for volunteers to bring a world-class event to the city, saying “it takes two years to get those five days ready.”

For young fastball catcher Morgan Ripplinger, the effort will be worth it.

“We’re such a small community kind of, you wouldn’t expect that we’d host worlds.”

This sentiment was echoed by Litzenberger.

“We believe this project will enhance the experience our young players receive, will continue to develop players at the grassroots level, and will bring fastball to the city of Prince Albert,” he said.

He told the crowd the Broda Group has already signed on as the project manager in Prime Minister’s Park, and seven other businesses have committed to help bring them to the $1.2 million-goal.

Litzenberger announced his group, ADFO, was also dedicated to fund Project Triple Play by committing $35,000 in cash.

What shape do Worlds take?

The Worlds bring in 10 to 12 teams from around the globe.

Kovitch pointed out the positive economic impact to Prince Albert because of the spectators that come out.

“These teams from Argentina, from New Zealand, from Australia, they don’t just come for 10 days and go home. They come for a full month leading up to the event and they spend it in our city, they practice on our facilities they play exhibition games,” he said.

Project Triple Play will roll out a social media campaign and website in coming weeks.

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk

by Chelsea Laskowski

P.A. calls for world-class ball diamond

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