Trail rep baseball will have a uniform look to their uniforms this season as the historic Orange and Black has been adopted by American Legion single-A and double-A teams.
Like Trail’s AM Ford senior men’s Orioles and their Little League minor and major rep counterparts, the former single-A Trail Phillies and AA Diamondbacks will now be known as the single-A and AA Orioles.
“They are all going to be called the Orioles now,” said Trail baseball executive Scott Calvin. “It was suggested and it really made things more streamlined. We can get a lot better prices if we order more stuff.”
Not only does the Orioles reflect the same colours as the famed Trail Smoke Eaters, the orange and black is synonymous with Trail sports culture.
“As kids hopefully continue to play and move up to the program, by the time they get to the senior men’s Orioles they already have socks and hats, and things like that, that just make it more simpler when they are out at practice.”
The single-A and double-A Orioles will continue to compete in the Spokane American Legion, while the AM Ford Orioles will again battle in the Pacific International League.
Tryouts for the American Legion teams were held the last weekend in April, and while the teams are looking forward to donning their new colours, numbers were down from last season.
“It’s pretty slim again,” said Calvin. “I know their squeezing, they’re going to be in the, hopefully, 12-per-team at best. Players from other areas just aren’t playing.”
The Legion teams will be predominantly made up of Trail players with a few from Beaver Valley, says Calvin.
Unfortunately, the former AAA Jays team will again not field a team due to lack of numbers. Most eligible players will likely play for the Senior Orioles.
However, the American Legion teams still have another month before they get started so there is the possibility that more players will emerge as it gets closer to opening day.
The first home game for the single-A Orioles goes June 6 in a doubleheader at 5 and 7 p.m. against Chewelah.
The AA Orioles open their home season with double-bills against Cheney, June 7, and June 8 versus East Valley both at 2 and 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, the AM Ford Orioles kick off the season at Butler Park on May 24 and 25 with a pair of doubleheaders against the Kelowna Jays at 4 and 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The Orioles’ host a provincial double-bill this summer with the Little League Minor provincials going July 12-19 and the B.C. Senior Men’s Baseball provincials swinging away Aug. 1-4.