Baseball Canada cancels all national championships
No matter how well things go for the Moose Jaw Canucks in the upcoming Baseball Saskatchewan season, they won’t have a chance to play for a national championship this summer. Baseball Canada recently announced it is cancelling all 2021 Canadian championship tournaments due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Given how the tournaments are scheduled for August and September, it might seem a bit early to make that decision, but the logistics of playoffs and hosting the tournament itself made the decision all but inevitable. “The health and safety of all of our members is our first priority and with that said we felt that there was no other choice but to cancel all of our national tournaments for 2021,” said Baseball Canada President Jason Dickson. “When you consider all of the elements that go into a national championship including provincial qualification events, inter-provincial travel, shared accommodations and the strain that running championships in a safe manner would entail for host committees, this was the best decision for all parties involved.” That’s not to say things are cancelled at a local level. Both the Moose Jaw Minor Baseball Association - which falls under the auspices of Baseball Canada - and Little League Moose Jaw are still planning to go ahead. No word has been given on the Little League Canadian tournaments.
“Our provincial members and local associations proved in 2020 that by working with their local health officials in providing a safe environment that a baseball experience can be enjoyed for participants,” added Dickson. “We are confident that our membership can enjoy our sport again in 2021.”
The cancellation marks the second straight year all Baseball Canada tournaments were shut down due to the ongoing pandemic, but the organization remains committed to regaining their footing in 2022.
“We realize that the decision to cancel our championships for a second time in as many years is not ideal for the athletes and teams that have been working hard with the goal of playing in them,” said Dickson. “We encourage you all to stay focussed on the things that you can control and create an environment that will still allow you to achieve your individual and team goals.”