Registration for Cochrane Minor Ball (CMB) will open up on Jan. 15 and parents looking to reserve a spot for their batters and hitters shouldn't wait, as spots aren't anticipated to stay vacant for long.
"Don't wait – get in there," laughed CMB operations co-ordinator Kayley Maclennan, adding that while the league does its best to accommodate the swell in players between ages four and 18 the available diamonds just aren't cutting it.
"Every year our numbers are increasing. We're growing, but our diamonds aren't," explained Maclennan.
"This year we're expecting just under 700 kids. Four years ago there were 350 kids," added Corey O'How, president of CMB, adding that they have had to implement a registration cap and rely on a first-come, first-serve basis for a couple of years.
"Our biggest issue in Cochrane is that we have one full-sized diamond (Rodeo South)," he said, explaining that a full-sized diamond is required for players age 15 and up, with over 300-feet of fencing, a 60-foot pitching mound and 90 feet between the bases.
"That's one of our biggest challenges, our older age group is really starting to grow," said O'How, adding that with more older kids playing ball each year, they have had to work creatively on scheduling with the town's mixed slo-pitch and men's slo-pitch leagues.
The other three diamonds located at Rodeo North and two at Mitford Park are good for up to ages 15.
Without firm estimates of when the town will build more ball diamonds, the future will likely entail sending players to Calgary for play.
Fees for CMB are in the low-mid range compared to other leagues in the region, according to O'How. Last year, baseball saw a 10 per cent increase in fees while softball faced no increase; this year, softball fees will be slightly raised and baseball fees will see no increase.
Blast Ball was developed to accommodate the four-year-olds, with T-Ball for ages five and six and Coach Pitch for ages seven and eight. Combined, there are 27 teams for these age groups.
Minor baseball is for ages nine and 10; Majors is for ages 11 and 12; Intermediate for age 13 and Junior for 14 year olds. Seniors are ages 15 and 16 and Big League is age 17 and up. There is also a Challenger program for children with physical or cognitive disabilities.
CMB will focus on building its Summer Ball program, which will celebrate its third season, running June through August long weekend.
This year, the league will focus their fundraising efforts to install a retractable batting cage at the turf at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.
Learn more or register at cochraneminorball.ca.
