Tony Orioli, a longtime baseball coach based in Okanagan Falls, is inviting Osoyoos baseball players between the ages of nine and 13 to sign up for a team that will play out of the South Okanagan Little League and feature players from Osoyoos, Oliver and Okanagan Falls. Orioli is seen here talking to a group of young players last summer. Osoyoos players in this age bracket can also sign up for a team based in Cawston that will be playing in the Penticton Minor Baseball League this spring. (Photo supplied)
After more than a decade without any competitive baseball being offered in this region, young players from Osoyoos will have the opportunity to play in two competitive programs this coming spring.
A group of organizers from the Keremeos and Cawston region are actively recruiting players from Osoyoos to play with a regional team that will compete in the Penticton Minor Baseball League starting in April.
Meanwhile, another group of organizers from Okanagan Falls are recruiting young baseball players from Osoyoos and across the region to play in the South Okanagan Little League, which also hopes to start a spring league in April.
Marc LePage is heading up the group regional team out of Cawston that will play in the Penticton Minor Baseball League, while Tony Orioli is trying to start a program out of Okanagan Falls for the South Okanagan Little League.
Both are hoping to recruit players from Osoyoos between the ages of nine and 14.
Kobau Park in Cawston will once again be home to competitive baseball for young Similkameen ball players and a group of local coaches have been working towards forming minor baseball teams to join the Penticton Minor Baseball League, said LePage.
“We have been in discussion with the Penticton minor baseball executive and they have been very receptive to us fielding teams to join their spring league,” said LePage. “We have got the go ahead to ask Osoyoos kids to join the Similkameen teams.
“Our goal is to put together teams made up of kids from the Similkameen and Osoyoos so that we can practice at Kobau Park in Cawston, but play games in Penticton against other teams in that league. Of course we would host games here in Cawston as well. It makes sense for the Osoyoos kids to play on the Similkameen teams as Cawston is so much closer than Penticton and we had a number of Osoyoos kids playing with us in Cawston last year. ”
One of the diamonds at Kobau Park in Cawston is being transformed into a proper baseball diamond complete with a pitching mound.
Baseball has been offered in the Cawston and Keremeos region for several years, but after the age of 11 the local program was halted, leaving kids without further opportunity to play, he said.
Last year, coaches took the initiative to invite kids from Cawston, Keremeos, and Osoyoos out to play baseball and 24 kids participated.
It was clear to the coaches that in order to maintain interest in baseball and give the kids a chance to compete, the team needed to join a league, said LePage.
“Our hope is that the kids have fun while learning the game of baseball,” he said.
“This is a great opportunity for kids to play on a team and we are excited about the upcoming season.”
Over the past several Friday evenings, young players from Cawston and Keremeos, and a couple from Osoyoos, have been getting in shape and practicing indoors at the high school in Keremeos and this will continue throughout February and March, said LePage.
The goal would be to play exhibition games throughout the spring against teams from Penticton, Summerland, West Kelowna and Kelowna, he said.
Coaches are looking for kids to register now as deadlines for joining the Penticton Minor Baseball League are upcoming.
Any player born in 2001/2002 (Peewee) or 2003/2004 (Mosquito) are invited to join. There are early registration discounts until February 15 and opportunity for financial help to cover registration and equipment if needed.
Meanwhile, Orioli is hoping to organize the same kind of league for players from Okanagan Falls, Osoyoos and Oliver.
“The goal right now is to form one team from all of the kids in the region … and if we got enough kids, we could maybe make two teams,” said Orioli. “We haven’t had an organized team for kids in this age range for more than 10 years and there are a bunch of coaches who think the time is right to try and run a spring league for young baseball players across the region.”
There are great minor programs for kids who play soccer and hockey in the South Okanagan and it’s time to try and allow those wanting to play baseball to have the same kind of opportunities, said Orioli.
“I know there are kids in Osoyoos who would love the chance to play baseball and we’re hoping they will sign up and come out,” he said. “The goal right now is to try a spring league and go from there.
For more information on joining the Similkameen spring baseball teams call Marc LePage at (250)499-4235, or email [email protected].
If interested in the South Okanagan Little League, contact Janet Black with the Okanagan Falls parks and recreation department at 250 497-8188 or Carol Sheridan with Oliver parks and recreation at 250-498-4985.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
