Reflecting on their rich history and pouring energy into the vital grassroots level to ensure the future remains bright. It’s a juggling act Richmond City Baseball (RCBA) continues to impressively negotiate.
For the fourth consecutive season, the 54-year-old association has enjoyed a growth in registration numbers with over 550 players hitting the diamonds. With Richmond’s shrinking school enrolment numbers, that is no easy feat. The RCBA has managed to pull it off thanks to an attractive all-round program that has something for players of all ages and levels. It also has reached out to its neighbouring sports organizations — a gesture that might have seemed unusual a few years ago.
Rather than a “every man for himself” mentality, a number of the city’s sports groups are working with each other, including a monthly meeting among respective presidents.
“Richmond is growing population wise but not necessarily kids,” said RCBA president John Braaten. “We have got to the point where we have to share kids now. We are working with both hockey associations, Richmond F.C. and Richmond Lacrosse where we are sharing our schedules. There is communication now which is exciting.
“For grassroots or house players, after baseball is done, we want them to go play hockey or soccer in the winter.”
What has to be most encouraging for Braaten and his executive is over 70 percent of RCBA’s registration is kids 11 and under. The Mosquito age group (10-and-11-year-olds) has grown from 96 to 120 players. At the next youngest age, Tadpole is overcapacity with 13 teams.
Now it’s up to the association to try and retain those numbers and kids work their way through the programs.
It’s why adjustments have been made by B.C. Minor Baseball to make the game more enjoyable, including the return of pitching machines at the Tadpole level and reducing the number of players in the field from nine to six with no outfielders.
“It’s to give the kids more chances and more reps,” explained Braaten. “That way you don’t have ‘Johnny’ standing in the field for two hours doing nothing and he doesn’t like baseball anymore. You can also see the increase in talent at the Mosquito level from it.
“We are retaining kids now. At the 13U level we have also gained an extra team over last year and we are almost back up to four teams at Bantam as well. If it keeps going, it helps our (oldest) midget program. We have to make sure that is loaded now that we have (a top tier) College Prep team too.”
A steady downpour couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm three weekends ago when the RCBA hosted its Opening Day celebration at Palmer Field — the four diamond complex, complete with a clubhouse and concession — that is now being operated by the association.
Braaten estimates over 400 players attended to not only celebrate the start of the season but pay tribute to the past too. Former executive members, who were influential in building Richmond City Baseball, were honoured, as were past championship teams, dating all the way back to 1965. New recognition signs will be installed on backstops at Gibbons, Blundell and Brighouse.
“We took some time going through the B.C. Minor Baseball yearbooks,” said Braaten in coming up with the champions honour roll list, that also includes teams from the old West and South Richmond Associatons, along with the Richmond Budgies.
“Our theme this year is ‘building community.’ We will be also putting up a sign here at Palmer and are asking all our kids to put their signature on it.”
The Palmer complex will also be adjusted to host a couple of major B.C. Minor tournaments — the 13U AA John Main (May 25-28) and the 11U A provincial championships (Aug. 3-6). Blundell will host the 15U AAA provincials, July 27-30.
