Playing for keeps
Richmond Amateur Baseball Association remains strong after 47 years
To say baseball has a long history in Richmond County would be an understatement.
As early as 1915 there has been photographic evidence that the game was being played in a somewhat organized fashion in River Bourgeois.
Today, baseball continues to be an important part of the Richmond County community, not only through minor baseball associations, but also in large part to the success of the Richmond Amateur Baseball Association.
The Richmond Amateur Baseball Association (RABA) began in 1970 and has been running successfully in communities across the county for the past 47 years.
Bruce Joshua, president of the RABA, believes the success of the league is due to the passionate volunteers who ensured baseball would survive and thrive in the area.
“Over the years healthy rivalries have fuelled the fire and built the fan interest,” said Joshua.
“We have also had many talented and special baseball players over the years,” he said. “Barry Marchand, formerly of the Louisdale Baracos, prior to moving to the Petit de Grat Reds Caps, was one of the best to ever play in the league. In addition, he has been actively involved as a volunteer for 40-plus years and is widely respected as the glue which held the league together during some lean years.”
From the 1970s until the early 2000s, the Richmond Amateur Baseball Association experienced periods of boom and bust. At one point the league dwindled to three teams, but in recent years have seen a resurgence of maintaining a six to seven team circuit.
This year, the league, featuring players between the ages of 15-60 and over, has six teams including the Inverness Athletics, Isle Madame Mariners, the defending champion Little Anse Hawks, Petit de Grat Red Caps, Port Hawkesbury Bucs, and St. Peter’s Royals.
The league has roughly 110 players competing this summer. Each team plays 20 regular season games, not counting the playoffs, each year.
“Our league offers local players the opportunity to compete and vie for our league title,” said Joshua. “There is a sense of community and team pride that accompanies a championship. It’s also important that we offer children and youth a goal (in which) they seek to one day play in our league.”
“We strive to offer quality sports entertainment for local fans,” he said. “There continues to be many passionate fans who are devoted to their favourite teams and are typically not too shy to share their thoughts, especially during the playoffs.”
The 2017 RABA season is well underway.
As of Friday night, the Hawks are leading the way in the standings with a 7-0-1 record, followed by the Mariners (6-6), the Bucs (5-6), the Red Caps (3-2-1), the Athletics (3-3) and the Royals (2-9).
“The four-time defending champion Little Anse Hawks, celebrating their 45th year this summer, remain undefeated and appear to be the team with the target on their back,” said Joshua. “The youth, upstart Isle Madame Mariners are competitive. Inverness and Port Hawkesbury have veteran clubs and can compete with any club, and St. Peter’s have been competitive, although their record doesn’t reflect the talent they have. Petit de Grat appear destined to make some noise this summer as well.”
League play will continue this weekend with the Royals playing the Athletics in a double-header on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. at Veterans’ Memorial Field in Inverness.
On Sunday, the Red Caps travel to Inverness to play the Athletics in a double-header starting at 1 p.m. at Veterans’ Memorial Field. Meanwhile,
also on Sunday, the Hawks will play the Bucs in a double-header starting at 1 p.m. at the Dan Willie Memorial Field in Port Hawkesbury.
Joshua encourages local baseball fans attended games and enjoy what the league has to offer.
“We have some talented athletes in our league. I urge fans to come to the park and catch some action and bring along children, grandchildren, friends and family,” said Joshua. “The quality of baseball is very good and it is also a wonderful opportunity to socialize and reminisce with some of the former players and long-time fans.”
The full league schedule is available online by searching the
Richmond Amateur Baseball Association. The league also has a Facebook page where fans can interact and can also be found by searching Richmond Amateur Baseball Association.