YOUNG AND RESTLESS: Brent Evans, centre, watches the mechanics of Joshua Meade, 13, as he catches a pop fly during an instructional session for the Fredericton Boys Fastpitch Association. In its third season of operation, the Learn to Play program is starting to attract the numbers that co-ordinator Scott Willis first envisioned when he came up with the notion of developing the sport from the ground up.
But president Scott Willis says a more accurate slogan would be 'Ask a lot of people for a little bit.' Willis started up the association in 2006, but only 15 kids decided to give it a try. Rather than give up, Willis made like a batter at the plate and decided to dig in. Last year, 56 boys signed up and this season the response has been through the dugout roof: 125 players, including 49 at the Learn to Play 7-9 age group. That group is preceded by the Learn to Play 4-6 division and followed by the squirt, peewee and bantam categories. The season started Monday and runs until the third week of August. 'To start anything, with no infrastructure in place, is a challenge,'' Willis said. 'Yes, we were discouraged after year one but we went back and said, 'Let's see where we can grow this?' and we did that.''
After registration grew from 15 to 56, Willis was targetting between 80 and 90 players this season.
'The most we were hoping for was 125, but I didn't think we'd reach it this year.'' He's not about to complain.
'I think we've established ourselves as a program parents want to put their children in,'' Willis said. 'Word of mouth has been big for us. Mainly it's fun for the kids. They're going to develop as players and individuals.'' As well, Willis wanted to make the FBFA affordable and convenient. He's achieved both. The cost is $30 for Learn to Play and $50 for the other three levels. 'That's a pretty good bargain,' he said. 'We've been fortunate to have some really good sponsors that didn't hesitate to come back and keep helping our program, which help us keep costs down.'
LTP boys only play two weekends all summer - Saturdays for mid-season and year-end jamborees - while the older groups are tied up only three weekends, including provincials. 'We have about 30 volunteers,'' Willis said. 'As we continue to develop players, we're also developing some coaches and parents as coaches. We don't want to burden anyone down with numerous tasks.'' Although Willis had to cap this season at 125 players, mainly due to field time, he says the association 'could definitely grow' in future seasons. 'We want to grow at a good pace and with a good base,' he said. 'You don't want to grow too quickly. The most satisfying thing for me is to see so many kids involved and active. 'Out of 125 players, we have 90 brand-new kids. Most never played any sports before, which is a positive for us because, as a group, we didn't want to steal baseball players or soccer players. 'For the most part, we're getting kids who just want to try a sport and be active,'' Willis said. The LTP 4-6 group, headed up by Bobby Despres, practice once a week. The other age groups are on the field twice a week. 'Early on, it will be two practices, then later on it will be practice-game,'' Willis said. 'The level of play from year to year is definitely improving.' The association's long-term goal is to not only host a national, 'but also to have our teams compete at provincials, Eastern Canadians and Nationals,' he said. 'First and foremost, we're about development. The competition part will take care of itself as the kids get to bantam and midget age.
'It's fun to see the sport come back,' Willis said. 'There's no doubt in my mind, baseball and softball can both survive in this city.'
Bruce Hallihan
The Daily Gleaner
