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Get to know your PSO: Baseball BC

Get to know your PSO (Provincial Sport Office) is back in time for the 2015 season with the aim to provide an informative look at each of the ten Provincial Baseball Organizations throughout Canada. The 2015 baseball season is already underway for some provinces, while others are still counting down the days until they can get on the field. Either way, baseball season is upon us so let’s take a closer look at the organizations that help bring baseball to communities across our country!

Name of PSO: Baseball BC
President: John Berry
Executive Director: David Laing
Headquarters: Surrey
Phone #: 604-586-3310
Website: baseball.bc.ca
Twitter: @Baseball_BC
Established: 1968
Number of staff members: 3
Major Awards: Province of the Year (1993, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010)
Membership: 6 member organizations representing approximately 15,000 athletes
Annual Provincial championship events: 20 provincial championships spanning all levels
Most notable baseball player(s) to come out of province: Larry Walker, Justin Morneau, Ryan Dempster, Jason Bay, Jeff Francis, Adam Loewen, Brett Lawrie, Michael Saunders, James Paxton
Famous non-baseball alumni: Christine Sinclair, Steve Nash
Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games connections: Larry Walker will be the Hitting Coach for the Men’s National Team. Athletes - Amanda Asay, Nikki Boyd, Claire Eccles, and Becky Hartley are candidates for the Women’s National Team. BC umpires Rob Allen (Men’s) and Rhonda Pauls (Women’s) have been selected to work the Pan Am Games.

Three areas of focus in 2015:

Grassroots Programming  

Baseball BC is continuing to centre its focus on grassroots programming and utilizing the services of Grass Roots Coordinator, Shawn Schaefer to help promote programs throughout the province                                                                      

“Community Associations are being recruited for both evening and weekend grass roots tour stops where Shawn will work through any of the Baseball Canada Grass Roots programs with (association) volunteers and athletes,” said Baseball BC Executive Director, David Laing. “We are hoping to further educate community groups on the benefits and structure of our great programming options. 

“We will also be looking to incorporate specialty clinics of the associations choosing to help with athlete development and volunteer training.”

Provincial Championships/Elimination Tournaments  

Baseball BC is excited to introduce “Elimination Tournaments” for the 2015 season that will provide access to Baseball Canada national championships and Western Canada championships.

“All of Baseball BC’s member groups are eligible, as are any non-member organizations or teams interested,” explained Laing. “This will pave the way for a true Provincial Champion at 18U, 15U and 13U divisions and will increase competition and development opportunities for all of the baseball playing community in British Columbia.

Female Baseball            

Baseball BC reported growth in their female baseball program by “leaps and bounds” in 2014 and the trend looks to continue in 2015 with the provincial office working actively to help grow the sport amongst females.                                                                                 

“With the introduction of the 21U division as well as the further development of the 13U and 16U programs we are looking to increase the participation base for female baseball,” said Laing. “(We) hope to continue to develop our female athletes while keeping them playing our great sport and ensure opportunities are able to be capitalized on.”

Baseball BC added to their office staff in 2014 as Shawn Schaefer joined the organization in the role of Grass Roots Coordinator. Schaefer has been busy lately, working with local associations to promote and educate on the various grass roots programs available to them. 


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