There are still a few bills to pay and checks to cash, but Bob Stanton says by all accounts, the 2011 Pepsi U-19 Men’s Canadian Fastpitch Championship held in Fredericton earlier this month was a resounding success.
Bob Stanton, the co-chair of the host committee for the recent U19 Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch tournament, said organizers expect to be able to present a $40,000 cheque to the Fredericton Boys Fast Pitch Association based on proceeds from the tournament.
The tournament co-chair said Wednesday that about 5,000 fans came through the gates at Prospect Street Park over seven days in early August to watch 16 teams from across the country battle for national supremacy.
And when it was all said and done, nearly $40,000 was raised to for the Fredericton Boys Fastpitch Association.
“We were (initially) looking to raise around $30,000 or $40,000,” said Stanton. “To give a strong financial legacy for the Fredericton Boys Fastpitch Association, to continue to operate for the next five years, and if we can do that next year (when Fredericton hosts the tournament again), we can solidify that for the next ten years.”
He said once the earnings from nationals are finalized, the committee will sit-down with the executive of the association to try and work out a five-year budget.
Logistically, Stanton said the tournament went off with only a few hiccups.
Parking in the main lot at Prospect field was full on several occasions, forcing motorists to park in the lots of nearby businesses, and rain delays ended up causing minor scheduling set backs.
Rain pounded the fields for several days, but city grounds crews were on hand at the field throughout the week, ensuring that the playing surface was suitable and safe for competition.
“Teams were certainly impressed with the field,” said Stanton. “Many of them mentioned that they were probably better fields than they’ve played on within their own province and in previous years, so we were quite happy to hear that.”
Fifteen hundred fans came out on the first day to watch the host Fredericton Twins win their only game of the tournament, and between 400 and 500 attended the tournament each day for the remaining six days, Stanton said. To continue reading, click here.
The internet coverage was the worst this writer has ever experienced. No scores, wrong scores, It may have
been a success financially, but, to think this crowd has the u18 next year as well as the Senior Canadians
is not good.