Season likely to be extremely busy one

Local softball enthusiasts have to be pleased with the start of the season. Uninterrupted league play has allowed for a smooth beginning.

It was great to see the first two tournaments of the season play out smoothly as well. The Saskatoon Minor Softball Association’s midget committee hosted a very successful Reg Banga Spring Classic the weekend of May 8-10. Co-ordinator Scott Zablocki and his crew helped 27 adult teams get their first taste of tournament action.

On that same weekend, the younger players began tournament play with the Early Bird tournament, hosted by the Raiders, featuring action in 13 categories and three age groups.

The SMSL is now into an extremely busy week as it enters what is unofficially called Minor Softball Week. The two big highlights are Minor Softball Night and the President’s Tournament. On Wednesday, 50 SMSL blast ball teams took over Bob Van Impe Stadium. It was an exciting time for the four- to six-year-olds on the field that has hosted the best softball players in the world.

Blast ball is the initiation stage of the three-step approach to player development in the SMSL’s rookie leagues. In this approach, players hit off a tee in smaller informal teams that emphasize skill development and fun.

As they progress through the rookie leagues, the emphasis on skill development continues. Games become more formal and look more like a traditional game. Once players hit the junior league, the games look almost identical to those played by adults.

The SMSL’s attention now turns toward hosting its annual President’s Tournament. Fifty-nine teams from around Western Canada will compete for titles in squirt A through to midget A categories, as well as midget B girls. The action gets underway around Glenn Reeve Fields as well as the two big parks of Gordie Howe and Bob Van Impe Stadium.

Fans are beginning to get real excited about the 2015 WBSC world men’s softball championship, June 26 to July 5. Fans outside Saskatoon can get into the action as well, with the scheduling of exhibition games in Regina, Warman, Delisle, Rosetown, Bruno and Prince Albert, leading up to the opening day in Saskatoon.

There is little doubt this will be the most competitive world championship ever, as at least half the 16-team field will have legitimate shots at winning a medal. Many people are looking forward to the announcement of Team Canada’s final roster on June 3, right here in Saskatoon, as there will be a lot of pressure for them to improve on their bronze medal from the last two times the worlds were here.

It is not too late to volunteer, as the next registration night takes place at the Saskatoon Inn on Monday starting at 6:30 p.m.