The inaugural World Baseball Challenge had far-reaching implications for pitcher Corey Parsons.
The Prince George event, held last July at Citizen Field, led Parsons to a pro baseball contract to play this season in Germany. The former Langley Blaze right-hander has signed with the Hamburg Stealers of the German Bundesliga and left this week to join his new team.
"After playing in the WBC, I have been given the opportunity to go to Germany and play professionally over there, which should be another great experience for me," said the six-foot-three, 190-pound Parsons, in a prepared release.
Parsons, 23, a former college player at Kwantlen University, played for Team B.C. at the six-team WBC and pitched for the provincial team against the U.S., who went on to beat Germany in the tournament final. Parsons made one other appearance in the tournament and recorded a save.
n Carter Hickey, a longtime volunteer in the baseball community and the former president of the Prince George Senior Baseball League, has died.
The former B.C. Rail conductor died at his home earlier this week of what is believed to be natural causes. In recent years, Hickey worked closely with John Kazakoff for the Prince George Grays junior baseball program, and he was a familiar face as a volunteer at all city baseball events.
No details are yet available on a memorial service.
n The Prince George Youth Baseball Association will conduct an umpire's clinic next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 6-9 p.m. at Citizen Field. Cost is $25 for youths, $50 for adults.
Call Dianne Lowry 250-962-5373 for more information. Pre-registration is required.
