THUNDER BAY – Sports – Two baseball organizations will benefit from a fund established by the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association (TBIBA) after the very successful 2010 World Junior Baseball Championships. District 3 Little League, and the Thunder Bay Umpires Association will share $5,000 which represents the awards for baseball programming and development in 2014.
“While event hosting continues to be a primary focus of the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association, the success of the 2010 World Juniors has allowed us to support baseball development in the community,” stated Larry Hebert, President of the TBIBA. “With these groups, contributions from our TBIBA Fund total $15,000. Both groups receiving funds this year are to be commended for their efforts to sustain and grow the game of baseball in our community,” Hebert continued.
The two groups receiving funds this year from the TBIBA include District 3 Little League for their hosting of the 2014 Canadian Big League Championships ($4,000) and the Thunder Bay Umpires Association will receive funds for umpire development as they work to sustain and develop the important function of umpiring to support baseball at all levels in Thunder Bay ($1,000). Every year, candidates are chosen and presented with funds to assist local baseball development programs in Thunder Bay. The candidates are chosen based on an application process. The application deadline is in the fall of each year.
Representatives of the two groups were in attendance at City Hall to receive cheques from the TBIBA. Norm Randle, President of District 3 Little League and Co-Chair of the Canadian Big League Host Committee and Ron Kowalchuk, President of the Thunder Bay Umpires Association will be on hand to receive the cheques.
The TBIBA would also like to acknowledge the selection of long-time Thunder Bay umpire Ken Story to participate in the 2014 Big League World Series in Easley, South Carolina. For more information on the TBIBA, go to www.worldbaseball2017.com.
Preparations for the 2017 IBAF 18U Baseball World Cup are beginning. The Thunder Bay International Baseball Association will be holding their Annual Meeting on Tuesday March 18th at the 55+ Centre, 700 River St. at 7:00p.m. Interested individuals are asked to contact info@worldbaseball2017.com if they wish to get involved.
