If all goes as planned, 2012 will see the return of senior men’s baseball to Athabasca.
A handful of local ball players are seeking to organize a new team and enter play in a competitive baseball league, and Mike Merrigan is leading the charge.
So far, things are looking good. The group has approached an unidentified senior league in Alberta with a proposal and has been given the go ahead to form a team; the Athabasca Royals.
The team would play senior AA ball, a highly competitive level (Merrigan compares the fledgling team to hockey’s Athabasca Aces). As such, players of some skill and experienced are required.
“We need guys with experience who are willing to participate as players, coaches, volunteers or executive members,” he said. “When guys finish their time as midget ball players, (it would be) an opportunity to stay in town and not head to another community to play ball.”
A small group of players, including Merrigan, is already practicing once a week at the ball diamonds near Edwin Parr Composite. The team will practice on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. until early or mid-October.
Athabasca did previously have a senior men’s league that ultimately disbanded. Merrigan and his group are working hard to ensure the new team won’t go down the same path.
“There was a team a few years back that wasn’t properly organized and managed, and that’s what we’re trying to avoid this time,” he said.
The new team won’t just be for ball players like Merrigan. He believes that local families and sporting enthusiasts would enjoy having another team in town to cheer for, and the Royals would provide that.
“There’s already a lot of support, and one area we’ve had a lot of interest is fan support. There has been strong interest from local fans who are looking forward to getting out to some ball games next summer,” he said. “It’s a small town so people tend to get behind things like this. It’s a good summer activity, to take the kids out to the ball park and watch a game.”
The team hopes to make use of the new baseball facility soon to be constructed at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
Team sponsors are also needed.
For more information on the team, contact Merrigan at 780-327-9450 or by e-mail at [email protected].
