It will be the celebration of the season when the Prince Albert Minor Baseball Association (PAMBA) hosts its first ever year-end banquet at the Carlton Comprehensive Public High School cafeteria on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Banquet organizer Graham McGregor said the goal is to show appreciation for youth baseball players, and their commitment over the past year.
“We’ve seen an increase in the participation and success of our Prince Albert Minor Baseball Association programming here in town the last few years (with) teams winning provincial titles and having much success, including the development of our Kinsmen Baseball Park and continued developments at Mair Park and Andy Zack Diamond in Prince Albert,” said Graham McGregor, the organizer of the Prince Albert Minors Baseball Association banquet. “We just want to have a chance to bring all the kids together and show our appreciation for their participation and also, obviously, for the families that support the participation of the athletes and then the coaches that support the participation as well.”
McGregor said the decision to hold a year-end banquet is a recent one. He said it’s important players know they are appreciated.
“It’s a big commitment,” he said. “Our training now starts, usually, in February … especially for the players and teams that are gearing up for provincials. We just wanted to show our appreciation for that.
“It’s also a chance for the younger athletes to see what they can do with the game further on. Our U18 and hopefully our U22 players and teams will be represented at the banquet as well, just to show them that it’s something they can continue with not only through their high school years and minor sports time, but beyond as well.”
McGregor said he’s not sure what kind of attendance they’ll get. He said it’s the time of year where it’s hard to gather families or players together for an event, but he’s optimistic it will be well received.
“Whatever fraction we get, we’re thankful for that and look forward to seeing them,” he said.
Ideally, McGregor said this will become an annual year end event.
Families with players who want to attend can find the registration link at the Prince Albert Minor Baseball Facebook page, or the minor baseball website.
—with files from Jason Kerr/Daily Herald
sports@paherald.sk.ca
