It's not about their record, wins or loses - it just doesn't matter. This is about improving their game and playing baseball for the love of the sport.
These important points are just a few of the keys to the inaugural season of fall baseball put on by the Gibsons Minor Baseball Association (GMBA).
GMBA president and coach Brian Scarr is thrilled with the program to date. The interest has been high, with 35 kids ages eight to 18, both girls and boys, from Gibsons and Sechelt. The nice weather has also been a bonus.
"We were aware of fall ball programs in other cities, but could never get anything going here," Scarr said. "In order for Sunshine Coast kids to be involved, the closest place was the North Shore. With ferries and travel costs, for many families that is not an option. So we hired three professional coaches, and with the support of other coaches in the association and volunteers, we started our first fall ball program in September."
The three coaches hired include Pat Phelen or "coach Grumpy" to the players, Alan Bailey and Gary Pennington. Scarr is coaching, along with his son Tim and Joe Ling. Tim and Ling are former GMBA players.
"It's nice to bring the alumni players and these young men back into the fold. The younger players can learn a lot from players who have been through and experienced the program," Scarr added.
Fall ball has started off strong with clinics every Friday at Ryan Dempster Field of Dreams in Brothers Park. Also out of the program, one travel team has emerged at the midget level. The squad is playing an exhibition season of games and has an impressive record of 4-1-1. They recently went to a tournament in Kelowna and defeated the Langley Blaze 5-3 last Friday (Oct. 9).
This weekend, Gibsons hopes to travel to Washington State to play Bellingham in what will be their final action for the season.
Scarr said going forward he hopes more travel teams will be established at the bantam, peewee and mosquito levels.
"The boys who make up the midget team are part of history - they're the first fall ball team on the Sunshine Coast," said Scarr. "All the kids, whether they are playing on the midget team or are coming put for the Friday clinics, are getting out and enjoying the game of baseball in a fun environment. It's not the same competition that you would find in the summer all-star leagues and that's OK. The kids are just participating and taking advantage of some excellent coaching. It's just a celebration of the game and that's what we want the fall ball program to continue to be - having fun and celebrating the game."
