A much welcomed dose of warm and sunny weather happens to coincide with Richmond City Baseball’s final registration push for the coming season at the grassroots levels.
The association is welcoming players — five-to-nine years of age— to sign-up by March 31 to be part of the 2019 campaign that gets underway with an Opening Day celebration on Saturday, April 6 at the Palmer/Garden City complex. The RCBA will have over 500 players once again this season — a number that has taken plenty of work to achieve and now maintain.
“ We always want more and to grow every year but this seems to be the sweet spot now at 500 given Richmond’s diversity,” said RCBA president John Braaten. “We’re still out out doing the community programs as well to promote. That’s the thing you just have to do.”
Player registration information can be found here: richmondcitybaseball.ca
The Chuckers have taken on a couple of significant BC Minor Baseball events this season including the 13U AA John Main Tournament that will have a dynamic new look.
The May 23-26 tourney has not only been expanded to 20 teams but will include an international flavour for the very first time.
Among the entries will be a team from Taiwan’s Hualien County. The South Bend Bears from Ottawa will also be making the trek to the West Coast and there are currently discussions with a couple of teams from the Los Angeles area as well.
“Adding some international flavour is something BC Minor always wanted to do and we’ve been working with a group out of Vancouver Community Baseball that hosted an international tournament last year,” continued Braaten. “The ultimate plan was to have a team from Japan as well. They are going to LA instead but we are already working on them for next year.”
The bulk of the John Main schedule will be played at Palmer/Garden but the showcase games involving the out-of-town entries will take place at Brighouse Park — one of RCBA’s marquee venues.
The Chuckers will also be hosting the College Prep Provincial Final Four Championships at Latrace Field — Aug. 2-4.
RCBA is not guaranteed berth but it’s shaping up to be a competitive season for Richmond with core of veterans under head coach Raul Verde Rios who is in his final season at the helm.
“We’re pretty confident in our team this year,” added Braaten. “We have nine returning players and a good mix within the three-year gap. Raul is the most loyal coach out there who decided to come back and go out with the third-year kids. We’re hoping it’s the perfect storm and a keen parents group wanted to step up and host it.”
