Ready, aim, swing! (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Play ball!

Prince Albert Slo-Pitch league hits home run in final weekend

Jul 31, 2023 | 2:00 PM

Another season has come to a close for the Prince Albert Slo-Pitch league, and with a little help from Mother Nature, scored a home run on the final at bat.

The league’s final tournament ran Saturday and Sunday at Lakeland Ford Park and included five co-ed divisions. League President Trevor Gunville said he was pleased with the result.

“We had nice weather so that always helps, and it was a busy place and lots of fun had by all,” he said.

A total of 50 teams registered for the league this year, which Gunville acknowledged is down from what they had pre-COVID, but still a slight increase from last year.

There were plenty of highlight reel moments throughout the weekend. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

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Participating teams come all over the Prince Albert region and include some from as far away as Big River and Witchekan Lake First Nations who make the drive into the city each week for games.

“Hopefully we get more [teams] next year and rebuild the league back up,” Gunville said, adding the lower divisions are full, but they need more teams in the higher divisions. Gunville also noted he would like to bring the men’s division back next year.

“If we can get the men’s, then obviously our numbers would go up,” he said.

Div. 1 champs – The Titanics. (Facebook)

When asked if the league was considering any creative ideas to draw in more teams, Gunville divulged they were tossing around the idea of reaching out to the local high schools and doing something with the Grade 12 physical education programs.

In addition to the need for teams, one of the concerns raised at the beginning of the season was a lack of umpires, and not burning out the core group of senior umpires who are working full time jobs and then coming to ump games at night. Gunville noted the situation improved quite a bit as they ended up with 16 umpires.

“They did a fantastic job but we’d alway like to have a few more,” he said.

Thanking all the teams who came out this year, Gunville said he thinks the league is going in a very good direction.

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell