Sign up for the meadowlakeNOW newsletter
(Meadow Lake Minor Ball/Facebook)
Minor Ball Season

Meadow Lake hopeful to bring in summer baseball tournaments after reopening announcement

May 5, 2021 | 3:44 PM

Following the provincial government’s announcement outlining the details of the province’s reopening plan, the Meadow Lake Parks and Recreation department is growing increasingly optimistic the city will have the opportunity to host provincial minor baseball tournaments.

On Tuesday, the provincial government announced public health restrictions would be gradually reduced as the vaccination numbers continue to increase. If things go according to plan, this would allow for larger public gatherings, including baseball games and tournaments.

Parks and Recreation Manager Regan Beck stated a successful vaccination distribution would put the community in a good position to land the opportunity to host a couple of tournaments throughout the summer.

“It’s an exciting time for them, and it makes it so we’re hoping for games at some point,” Beck said. “We’re planning on hosting the U12 softball provincial championships, as well as the U15 baseball provincial championships into the summer. If restrictions lift the way I read that announcement yesterday, it looked like they need to lift all restrictions on USports. I would assume that moving tournaments would be allowed as well, so fingers crossed. It’s all in the details still, so we don’t know the details just yet, but it looks promising.”

Around this time last year, community baseball was allowed to practice and play games, but public health restrictions limited non-essential travel which basically reduced sports to exclusively local competition.

Beck added he is hopeful the provincial government will stick to its claim that all restrictions will be lifted in the second phase of reopening.

“It said outdoor events up to 150 people, which of course would more than cover a regular baseball game, and that’s what I’m hopeful that ball will fall into. We’re hopeful now if they’re saying remove all restrictions, that they actually do remove all restrictions and that would allow us to play tournaments as well.”

The first phase allowing 150 people to attend outdoor gatherings is expected to be implemented once 70 per cent of Saskatchewan residents over the age of 40 have received their first dose of the vaccine. The second phase, which would eliminate the remaining restrictions surrounding minor sports could take place once 70 per cent of people over the age of 30 have received their first dose.

As of May 3, 42 per cent of residents over the age of 40 have received their first dose of the vaccine. Only four per cent of residents over the age of 40 have received their second and final dose of the vaccine.

elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp

View Comments