Every two years since 2009, the World Baseball Challenge has provided local baseball fans a chance to watch international baseball being played in their own back yard by future professionals.
That tradition continues this summer when Prince George plays host to a six-team tournament at Citizen Field, Aug. 14-23.
Cuba, the United States, Japan, the Bahamas, and Canada are already slotted in the tournament, with Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) also in the mix but as yet unconfirmed.
"They're primed and ready to go," said WBC tournament chair Rick Pattie. "We want to make sure we put on a good show. We have a good core committee going with new faces and some fresh ideas and overall I'm confident."
Pattie said he and his committee kept a low profile in the days leading up to the Canada Games, rather than trying to compete for volunteers and sponsorship dollars. Now that the Games are over, it's full steam ahead trying to raise a $600,000 tournament budget. About 125 volunteers will be needed to run the event.
"There's an untapped market out there, we're not going to find a $100,000 sponsor but there are a lot of people who can make up that $100,000," said Pattie. "We had a bit of profit from the last one (in 2013) and paid off any outstanding debts and we had enough to get us started.
"There's some excitement out there. People want to know when they can get tickets. It really is great baseball. When you're at the World Baseball Challenge, you're watching future major league baseball players."
Pattie, who works full time as a hydraulic services salesman for Wajax Industrial Components, said his 30-member committee is trying to broaden its advertising reach, targeting more of the smaller cities in northern B.C. to try to boost attendance. They're working with tourism centres throughout the province, using posters and multimedia resources to help get the word out. This year at the WBC, afternoon games will start later in the day to try to attract more fans who have to work during the day.
Cuban teams have won past two WBC tournaments. In 2011, the Cuban B national team beat Chinese Taipel 10-5 in the final. The Cuban team included first baseman Jose Abreu, now with the Chicago White Sox. Abreu was an all star in 2014 and the American League rookie of the year.
In 2013, the Ciego de Avila Tigers of Cuba trounced JX-Eneos of Japan 14-4 in a mercy-rule-shortened eight -inning championship game. This year's Cuban team at the WBC will be the Pinar del Rio Vegueros, champions of the 2015 Cuban National Series.
"The Cubans love coming here," said Pattie. "They love to shop at Canadian Tire and Walmart and the hospitality of the people is always good. There have been lots of friendships made."
Five days into the 2013 tournament, Cuban first baseman and power hitter Yozzen Cuesta defected and was whisked out of the country. The 25-year-old eventually surfaced in Florida, where he had a tryout last summer with the New York Yankees. He remains unsigned.
In the first WBC tournament held in Prince George in 2009, a star-studded U.S. college all-star team beat Germany in the final. The U.S. team that year included pitchers Sonny Gray, Gerritt Cole and Drew Pomerantz; infielders Christian Colon, Kolten Wong and Brad Miller; outfielder Michael Choice and catcher Yasmani Grandal, all of whom now play in the the major leagues.
This year's American team will be a selection of players from the Northwest Collegiate Baseball League, like the team which finished third in 2013. Many of the players will be from junior colleges and the WBC will be their final tuneup before they begin the fall NCAA season.
Outfielder Roeman Fields, who suited up for the U.S. team at the 2013 WBC, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays after he broke the Vancouver Canadians (single -A) stolen base record last year. Fields, 20, has played some Grapefruit League games with the Blue Jays this month.
The Japanese team will be the winner of the Inter-City (Industrial) League, which won't be determined until this summer. The Langley Blaze senior team, winners of the 2014 Baseball Canada national title, will represent Canada.
"That is the best team in Canada right now," said Jim Swanson, who chaired the first three WBC tournaments in Prince George, continues his involvement from Victoria as the team liaison. "We've taken the all-star approach for Canada in the last couple and it hasn't worked out. In 2013 they got off to a terrible start and never spiraled out of it. "
