(Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Nolan Kowal

Play ball!

Weekend events adding to softball, baseball buzz in P.A.

May 28, 2024 | 3:00 PM

Prince Albert will be hosting a pair of tournaments this weekend as the baseball and softball seasons kick into high gear.

First up, the city is hosting the fourth annual Shaye Amundson Memorial Softball Tournament, beginning on Friday May 31 and running until Sunday June 2.

There will be 32 female teams across four divisions, with teams coming together from around Saskatchewan and Alberta.

“I think with hosting world qualifier coming up in July, and obviously the World Championships next year for men, hosting that and having those world class diamonds has put us on the softball map,” said Curtis Bradbury, who will coach the U15 team at this weekend’s tournament.

There will be four age groups competing: U11, U13, U15, and U17. There will be two Prince Albert-based teams competing in the U11 divsion, along with one local team in each of the other three divisions.

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“It’s a wide open tournament, so I think anyone can have a chance of winning it,” said Bradbury.

Meanwhile, the U15 Lew Hobson Grand Slam Baseball Tournament also goes this weekend. The event will see eight Double A teams competing from around the province, including two P.A. based clubs.

“We’ll definitely have a shot to be in the final, that’s for sure,” said Jason Van Otterloo, who is coaching one of the local teams.

Van Otterloo added he too can feel the buzz in the city surrounding baseball and softball right now.

I find ball…whether it’s softball or baseball right now in the city is really on the up and up,” he said. “Last year we ended up hosting Westerns and we had three sets of provincials being hosted in Prince Albert which has never been done before.”

“It’s really on the rise…love it.”

A team from Shellbrook will also compete in the Lew Hobson tournament.

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com