In just a few days, it will all start.
Trail Little League will help everyone involved in the provincial championship tournament get settled, then a day later the tournament will begin.
The proud history, even dominance, of Trail in B.C. Little League play is mostly past, but the opportunity we have to support the latest representatives of our continued aspirations in attempting to rekindle some of that flame should not be lost.
So you know, the West Kootenay team starts play Saturday afternoon, right after the 12:30 p.m. opening ceremonies, comes back for the morning game at 10 a.m. Sunday, then will play at dinnertime, - 5 p.m., the rest of the round-robin way.
That means that even if you are encamped at one of the main local lakes, you can commute for the games in daylight.
Yours truly played in the second through fifth season of Trail’s Little League existence, long before there was an Andy Bileski lifetime legacy, never mind a park complex named in his honour.
Being that was the middle of a golden age of sports in Trail, there were already signs of the multiple provincial and national championships stature to come.
I am still convinced that, had there been only one local league, at least one Williamsport title would have been the result.
There were, however, two, so half of the local talent was excluded from provincial play depending upon which side of the Columbia they represented in all-star play.
Even at approximately half-strength Trail teams were always contenders and often winners at the provincial and national level.
It’s tougher for local teams now. There are fewer kids from fewer families with more activity choices involved. Nevertheless, this is still a strong baseball city, the only one across Canada that has most often been able to hold its own with towns from the U.S., where the game is the “National Pastime.”
This tournament should be seen as a very big deal, and we should support it in any way we can.
And like the iconic “Box of Chocolates,” you never know what you are going to get.
Nobody watching a medium-sized Jason Bay two decades ago could have been certain they were watching a future major-league star. The same can be said of those in attendance when such as Larry Walker and countless others were in view at this championship.
Nobody knows until, as Yogi Berra said, “It’s over,” who will win either.
Everybody, almost, knows that showing support for all the kids (and adults) involved will benefit both them and us, now and in the future.
Outstanding reasons to be there. Take the time. You will enjoy it.