The longest running and most prestigious youth baseball tournament in the province, the Canadian National Exhibition's annual peewee baseball tournament kicked off its 54th installment Friday.
An annual rite for 12 and 13 year olds in Toronto - and beyond - the Lions-CNE peewee tournament is "very much alive and doing well" reports CNE Ballpark coordinator and retired Jarvis Collegiate gym teacher, Marvin Pearl.
There have been some concerns for organizers in recent years, including Pearl who has helped organize the peewee series and its periphery events for more than 30 years, though those worries are being benched - at least for this year.
The numbers to the peewee series vary from year to year, he said late last week, but things are looking up for that component of the festivities this year.
A full slate of 32 teams signed on to the peewee tournament - including 10 from Toronto - up from 29 last year with "one anxiously hoping some team drops out."
Scarborough's Wexford-Agincourt Twins and '97 Scarborough Stingers; Etobicoke's Martingrove Express, Royal York and West Toronto Wildcats; North York's '97 North York Blues and North York AAA; East York Bulldogs; North Toronto Storm and North Toronto Huskies all fielded representation into the peewee series.
Sunday featured a reunion for the storied World Champion 1972 Richmond Hill Dynes who played in the once-popular Beaches Men's Fastball League.
The team was honoured at a special ceremony-presentation, as were approximately 100 former members.
The day also included the first half of a two-day cross border Ontario-International Peewee All-Star Tournament in which the Toronto Baseball Association was represented. The TBA peewees defeated Eastern Ontario 7-3, Buffalo beat Ann Arbor, Michigan 10-3, Eastern Ontario redeemed itself in the second match, defeating Ann Arbor 17-2 and Toronto continued its hot streak downing Buffalo 10-1.
Also on deck at the CNE Ballpark, former participants will be honoured at a softball 'old timers' ceremony and reunion Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. while the Bulova Women's Fastball Tournament, including eight midget and bantam teams, will battle it out over the course of four days for the Sid Morris Trophy starting Thursday, Aug. 26.
In its second year, the Central Ontario Girls Baseball Association is hosting an "all-encompassing" clinic for 11 to 15 year olds on Tuesday, Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. Participants will receive instruction on hitting, pitching, fielding, throwing and base-running.
"It is an attempt, and a good one, to increase interest amongst females in the game of baseball," said Pearl. "And last year's numbers gave indications that the concept was well received."
Closing out the CNE Ballpark festivities Thursday, Sept. 2 is a rookie ball exhibition series for seven to nine year olds.
Peewee tourney update as of press time: North York Blues '97 dropped its opener to Niagara Falls 16-0 on Friday, Aug. 20. Action continued Monday, Aug. 23 with East York, Royal York, Agincourt and Martingrove competing against Vaughan, North Mississauga Tigers, Brampton and Mississauga South-West, respectively. The outcomes of those contests were not available at press deadline.
For further scheduling info and results visit
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