'August Madness': Baseball Ontario begins first provincial play in two years
The crack of the bat, the pop of the catcher's mitt, and an emphatic umpire call... just some of the sounds of summer that people have missed so dearly.
"it's just good to be back playing baseball," says Mitch Prsa, a pitcher for the Tecumseh Thunder.
The Thunder were among the teams competing in St. Thomas, Ont. this week as part of the first Baseball Ontario tournament in two years.
The Tecumseh Thunder in the dugout at the U22 baseball Ontario Championships in St. Thomas, Ont. on Friday July 30th, 2021. (Brent Lale/CTV London)
The Tecumseh Thunder in the dugout at the U22 baseball Ontario Championships in St. Thomas, Ont. on Friday July 30th, 2021. (Brent Lale/CTV London)
"We are calling this month August Madness", says Aaron Dunlop, U22 series chair for Baseball Ontario.
"Teams across the province will play a home-and-home series. We have different brackets set up throughout the province and when you win you move on to the onto the next round. It's kind of a hybrid of a series and a tournament format".
Dunlop says it's difficult to describe how much his organization and players missed sanctioned events like a provincial championship.
"It wasn't until you actually got back out here with these kids, and these coaches and families that you realize that this was part of our life," says Dunlop.
"The families and relationships that are made out here on the baseball diamond go on for a lifetime".
A major part of competitive travel baseball is the ability to spend weekends together on the road, and in hotels. Teams haven't been able to do that since 2019.
The tournament also began with a bang, with both of the openers requiring extra innings. St. Thomas won their game via a game winning bases-loaded walk.
"It's a tie game late in the game there, that's a feeling that none of us have had in two years," says Paul Pettipiece, manager of the St. Thomas Tomcats.
"We play in league play, and it's competitive baseball, but nothing compares to something like this where you're playing for a championship."
That opening contest actually got heated and contested. It's a missing feeling that has effected the mental health of young players across province.
St. Thomas pitcher Brett Reid stares in for a sign at the U22 Baseball Ontario Championships in St. Thomas Ontario on Friday July 30, 2021. (Brent Lale/CTV London)
St. Thomas pitcher Brett Reid stares in for a sign at the U22 Baseball Ontario Championships in St. Thomas Ontario on Friday July 30, 2021.
"It's been tough, I'll be honest," says Brett Reid, a pitcher for the Tomcats.
"It's such a relief (to be back). At school we were supposed to have a season but unfortunately, COVID got worse so it got canceled. Getting the pitch in competitive meaningful game in an elimination tournament, it's just awesome."
Competition and kids are back, and so is the beginning of a sense of normalcy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.