Opening pitch in the World Baseball Challenge is just days away. But first, the kids will get the chance to throw, catch, hit and run.
Today at the Northern Sport Centre fieldhouse, the Honda Super Camp will officially start the countdown to the WBC. The skills development camp, one of 10 being held across Canada this summer, is being led by former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Duane Ward. The camp has already been on the diamond in Vancouver and will also make stops in London, Halifax, Ottawa, Quebec City, Calgary, Toronto, Regina and Winnipeg.
"I think they're going to be great for all the kids involved and the organization," said TJ Burton, coordinator of amateur baseball for the Blue Jays. "It's a very exciting time for the organization in many ways. They've really tried to take the approach of going coast to coast and I think these Honda Super Camps are the best example of that. We just had a great one in Vancouver and we're really looking forward to this one in Prince George."
A baseball camp of this stature has never before been held in Prince George. More than 125 players, in the eight to 16 age range, registered for it.
"This is going to be fun, for our World Baseball Challenge committee, for the kids in the camp and for the community at large," said local camp coordinator Lori Wolfe.
"This is coming together nicely and will be something that these young players and their parents will never forget. The Blue Jays do things first-class all the way and we're pleased to be working with them."
The WBC, presented by the Blue Jays and the City of Prince George, starts Friday at 7 p.m. at Citizen Field when Cuba takes on the Beijing Tigers. Other teams are the Bahamas, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Canada. The event runs through July 17.
People who have purchased tournament passes can pick them up at Citizen Field starting tonight. Those folks still wishing to buy tournament passes can do so through Ticketmaster until the end of the day on Thursday. Single-game and day passes will go on sale Friday at the field.
