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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 PEI Incorporated
President: Don LeClair
Executive Director: Randy Byrne
Headquarters: Charlottetown
Phone #: (902) 368-4203 or 1-800-247-6712
Website: baseballpei.ca
Twitter: @BaseballPEI1
Established: 1997
Number of staff members: 1
Number of Board members: 6
Major Awards: Province of the Year (2001, 2013)
Annual Provincial championship events: 8 Provincial Championships and 5 Provincial Jamborees, annually
Membership: Baseball PEI has 12 Associations with approximately 1,450 members across the Island.
Most notable baseball player(s) to come out of province: Vern Handrahan - Played with the Kansas City Athletics in the American League from 1964-1966. He appeared in 34 games as primarily a relief pitcher; JP Stevenson – Former member of the Junior National Team
Famous non-baseball alumni: Former Baseball Canada President, Ron Rice
Three areas of focus in 2015:
New Provincial 21U (Junior) League
There are a significant number of 18U players who aren’t ready or don’t want to play Intermediate or Senior quite yet so Baseball PEI is introducing a 21U league to help keep these players in the game.
“Our hope is that this league will keep those players playing baseball, and to prepare them better for Intermediate and/or Senior baseball,” said Executive Director, Randy Byrne. “ We haven’t had a 21U league in a couple decades so we look forward to revitalizing this level of baseball.”
Promoting Rally Cap throughout Prince Edward Island
Byrne says that Baseball Canada’s Rally Cap initiation program falls into three categories on the island – associations that use the program, associations that use only elements of the program and associations that don’t use the program at all.
“Our goal is to provide more training on Rally Cap for associations and coaches, and within a year or two, every association will be doing it properly,” he explained. “If we want strong players for the future, we have to use our limited time with these 8U players more effectively and teach the fundamentals properly.”
Clinic program
Baseball PEI offers a clinic program that is open to every minor baseball team on the Island.
“Last year we ran 59 clinics, involving 763 players,” said Byrne. “This year we hope to exceed these numbers.
“Our hope with these clinics is to provide more detailed information and training on fundamentals to our young players so that their “baseball literacy” is significantly improved.”
It also should be noted that Baseball PEI underwent a staffing change late in 2014 with Byrne taking over as Executive Director for the departed Jacob Smith.
Byrne played and coached baseball on the Island, and was an Association President for five years before becoming Baseball PEI Executive Director.
