'You can feel the vibe in town': Chatham Barnstormers inch closer to inaugural season in IBL
The boys of summer are in Chatham, Ont.
Eighteen months after the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) approved the Maple City as its newest franchise, first pitch is near.
“It really is right around the corner,” said pitcher Aiden Ryan of Tecumseh about the season opener on May 17 in Brantford. “We come here [Fergie Jenkins Field] every Saturday, and get work in.”
The Barnstormers are currently preparing with batting and pitching work indoors for the upcoming season. Just a few feet away from the Ewald Homes Field House, the results of the nearly $200,000 in improvements to Fergie Jenkins Field are starting to take shape.
Stadium upgrades include a new pathway, LED lights and 575 bleacher seats on each side of home plate which will triple capacity. They were needed as the 600 season tickets have already sold out.
“I think every night we’re going to be packed,” said Harry Muir, Barnstormers general manager.
He continued, “We're adding some more bleachers and in right field [beyond the fence] we have like a right field section for families. We're going to have standing room down the right field line over by the bullpens. There's going to be people in here and it's going to be loud. It's going to be exciting.”
Two new sets of bleachers add an additional 575 seats at Fergie Jenkins Field in Chatham, Ont. The bleachers are part of a $195,000 renovation to the field as they prepare for the inaugural season in the Intercounty Baseball League. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
The construction didn’t stop there. A new clubhouse and training facility is being built on the west side of the fieldhouse.
“We're going to treat this more like a professional team, and like a minor league team,” said Muir.
He added, “I think we're the only club that has an indoor batting cage batting area right next to the field. Our new clubhouse is right here. I hope to help with recruiting next year, because with so many big leaguers in the past like Fergie Jenkins and Bill Atkinson, we're hoping that this little kids will have a dream, and this is kind of the feel of a big league ballpark.”
Back inside where they are getting their baseball work in, hometown native Spencer Marcus is ready to play in front of family and friends in the inaugural season.
“I don't think it's all set in yet,” said Marcus, an outfielder at Niagara University. “Maybe the first day, or first pitch the nerves will set in. It’s big vibes here in town, and it’s exciting to hear of all the people talking about it [the new team] and all the season tickets being sold. I'm pumped up.”
The Barnstormers season begins May 17 in Brantford, with the sold out home opener the following night on May 18.
A new clubhouse is being constructed next to the current fieldhouse at Fergie Jenkins Field in Chatham, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
London Drugs stores remain closed, 'cybersecurity incident' may have breached personal data
London Drugs says it is working with third-party security experts as the company tries to reopen dozens of stores across Western Canada that were shuttered by a cybersecurity incident Sunday.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.