A broken watermain leaking into a dugout, cancelled flights, sponsorship that’s fallen short of the budget and a field that’s too small; those are some of the challenges Craig Bridger is dealing with in the days leading up to the start of the Little League Intermediate Canadian Championships to be played at Coquitlam’s Mackin Park (1046 Brunette Ave.) July 17-24.
It’ll be a relief when the umpire calls “play ball” for the first game Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., between British Columbia and Alberta.
The tournament brings together six of the top baseball teams and players, aged 12-13, from across the country, including the host District 3 Firebirds, which is comprised of players from Coquitlam, Whalley and Langley Little Leagues.
The winners advance to the Little League Intermediate World Series that’s to be played in Livermore, CA. July 28-Aug. 4.
Bridger, the Canadian tournament’s coordinator, said while the intermediate World Series doesn’t have the profile of Little League’s annual world championship for 12-year-olds that takes place in Williamsport, PA. and is broadcast on network television, the level of athleticism and style of baseball is actually a step forward.
The players are more mature physically, the pitcher’s mound is further out , the bases further apart and lead-offs on the base path are allowed. The problem, Bridger said, is many Little Leagues age out after 12 years old so players have to move on to other outside organizations like BC Minor Baseball. That means the pool of players at the intermediate level is smaller.
Still, Bridger said, this tournament is the biggest undertaking for Coquitlam Little League since hosting the senior Canadian championships at Blue Mountain Park in 2015 and the first time Mackin Park has been in the national spotlight.
“This is one of the signature parks in the province,” Bridger said of the little ball yard nestled amidst the trees off Brunette Avenue.
A bit too little, as it turns out.
The outfield fences at Mackin are about 25 feet shy of the 225 ft. distance recommended for the age group so down the left and right field lines as well as dead centre they’ve been doubled in height.
“It’s kind of our Green Monster,” said Bridger, referring to the famous towering wall in left field at Boston’s historic Fenway Park.
For months, Bridger and his core team of organizers have been pulling together all the disparate elements that comprise a national tournament, from arranging accommodations for the five visiting teams from Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, which is represented by Layritz Little League in Victoria, to pulling together a gala players’ banquet to be headlined by former Minnesota Twins outfielder and Canadian national team member Rene Tosoni.
All told, almost 40 volunteers will keep the tournament ticking along smoothly from practice sessions scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, 15 preliminary round games plus two semi-finals on July 23 and the consolation and championship finals on July 24.
“Little League really emphasizes the volunteer and community aspect,” Bridger said of his contingent of helpers who will do everything from raking the infields to keeping score and operating the scoreboard. “It’s a lot of hours of dedication and commitment.”
For the players, the anticipation of achieving their field of dreams in real life is palpable.
"We're all sharing in the excitement," Bridger said. "It feels real for them now."
