Regina is set to host Canada’s top 17U baseball players for the second time since 2019.
Canada’s top 17-and-under baseball players will once again be coming to Regina this August.
The city is set to play host to the 2023 Baseball Canada Cup from Aug. 9-13, featuring 10 provincial 17U all-star teams from across the country.
“When you’re getting all-star teams from every province in the country, it definitely attracts interest from any baseball lover out there because they want to see some amazing baseball,” said Mike Ramage, executive director of Baseball Sask.
Regina last hosted the event in 2019 and it was such a hit, much of the organizing committee is back this year. The tournament will feature 36 games over five days, split between Optimist Baseball Park and Currie Field.
“It’s the same blueprint,” said Cas Pielak, CEO of the 2023 event and longtime baseball volunteer. “It was very successful.”
Teams from across the country will form all-star rosters, meaning the best up-and-coming players in Canada will be on the field in August. The event will attract anywhere from 20 to 30 scouts as well, considering these are the players who will go on to the college and even professional ranks.
“This is the biggest championship that the scouts would come and watch at a Baseball Canada level,” said Ramage. “This is a huge opportunity for them to be seen by scouts and universities to try and get some scholarships and potentially get drafted by a major league team as well.
“It’s the best of the best.”
Regina’s Dustin Molleken played in the Baseball Canada Cup for Team Sask in 2001 and went on to have a stint in the majors. And he’s not the only one, as the list features names of other former pros like Justin Morneau, Russell Martin, Jaxon Bay, James Paxton, Nick Pivetta and Brett Lawrie.
And Molleken is back this year, serving as Team Sask’s pitching coach. The province’s roster has yet to be finalized, but so far Molleken likes what he sees.
“We have some awesome arms and some awesome players,” said Molleken.
Team Sask has won the tournament three times with gold medals in 1994, 2016 and 2017.
Source : Regina Leader-Post
