A new baseball association is opening up registration for the first time in the South Cariboo.
The newly formed 100 Mile Baseball Association aims, according to president Brett Taylor, to promote minor baseball in 100 Mile House and advance the sport in the community. Spring registration is open now and will be closed on Feb. 28, 2025. The baseball association, Taylor said, was formed around August 2024 due to recent demographic changes in 100 Mile House.
"We have heard from many families that they would love to see minor baseball introduced in our town," Taylor noted - stating that many of the founding members are from baseball families who still play the sport in the local slo-pitch league.
Taylor explained that they did a preregistration and 90 parents signed up their kids for the baseball association.
The association plans to have several teams for different age categories. The include U5 Blastball, which introduces kids to baseball and is played with a foam ball and bat, U7 T-ball, U9 Tadpole, played with a pitching machine, U11 Mosquito, U13 Peewee, U15 Bantam and U18 Midget. Those interested in signing up can register online at 100milebaseball.ca.
There are differences between softball, which is what has traditionally been played in 100 Mile House in recent years, and baseball, Taylor noted.
"It's played with a smaller ball, and a bit different pitching technique. It also acts as a stepping stone if kids want to go to MLB (Major League Baseball) or play professional baseball," Taylor explained. "We are offering a unique experience that's never been offered in 100 Mile House before for all kids to learn and play baseball."
In addition to needing players, the baseball association also needs volunteers: around 18 to 20 of them. Volunteers can also register on the website - which has positions such as head coach and assistant coach available. In addition, there are also duties such as setting up the fields, running the pitching machine and umping. Baseball knowledge is a bonus, but not a prerequisite.
"We are going to be putting on some courses for training coaches before the season starts," Taylor said.
The plan is for the association to be playing in the local softball fields near the South Cariboo Recreation Centre - with them planning on attending a field meeting set for February. Not all the divisions will be playing there, however.
"The younger divisions will be playing at the school fields," Taylor stated, adding it needs to be confirmed but that the baseball field at 100 Mile Elementary School is where the younger divisions will most likely play.
As for tournaments, Taylor said they don't plan to run a tournament and does not t know if they'll be participating in this year's B.C. Minor Baseball provincials tournament.
"But we have reached out to the Kamloops organization about planning weekend exhibition/tournament games with our association and theirs," Taylor remarked.
Financially, the association is being supported by Taylor's own company - 100 Mile Cariboo Contracting, which had been starting to try to meet the fundraising goal of $30,000 according to a written statement - and they are seeking a grant from the Four Rivers Co-Op, as well. The season is set to begin on Apr. 24 and will run for 11 weeks until June 27.
Anyone with further questions is invited to reach out to Taylor via 100milebaseball@gmail.com.
Editor's note: This story has been updated from the original version to indicate that 100 Mile Cariboo Contracting initiated fundraising toward the goal of $30,000 rather than donated $30,000.
