The Bob Bissonnette Baseball Classic is back this year, in a more ambitious format. 38 teams made up of athletes under the age of 13 from Quebec will have the chance to set foot on the synthetic surface of Stade Canac in mid-July.
Last year, with COVID-19, the organization had to limit itself to hosting 10 training sessions. The return to more normal health rules has allowed it to significantly increase the number of participants this year, which will be divided into three categories: 16 AA clubs, 16 A and 6 women’s AA.
Each team will have the opportunity to play at least one game at Stade Canac during the competition, which will take place from July 14 to 17. The other matches will be played at Henri-Casault Park and Victoria Park.
Memories of the peewee tournament
Last year, the organizers of the event had expressed the desire to revive the Quebec pee-wee baseball tournament, which disappeared 40 years ago.
“If you knew the number of people who still talk to me about it… Some played there in the 1970s and they tell me every detail after 50 years!, smiles Michel Laplante, president of the Capitales de Québec and member of the board of administration of the Classic.
“So we say to ourselves that we want to bring this same experience to young people who will still be talking about it in 2056,” he adds.
Soon international
With 38 teams this year – more would have liked to participate, but the number of registrations was limited – the organization led by Daniel Fleury is approaching its goal. All that’s missing is hosting international training. A plan that the whole team worked on a few months ago, but which was made impossible due to the pandemic.
“We had made important contacts with American, Cuban and Dominican teams, but when they were officially recruited, it was the pandemic, so there was a lot of uncertainty for the teams,” said Mr. Fleury.
As of next year, if possible, the tournament would like to bring to Quebec some fifteen clubs from other countries.
Which would be easily achievable, believes Mr. Laplante, because of the strong ties that remain with former Capitals players who have become coaches at home.
A baseball party
But in the meantime, general manager Daniel Fleury and his group promise three days of celebration to the young participants. They will attend Thursday’s game between the Capitals and the Empire State Grays of the Frontier League.
On Friday, the Stade Canac terrace will be extended to the outfield and more than 1,000 people will be able to sit there.
“You know, Bob Bissonnette was an artist and an athlete who was original, points out Mr. Fleury about the hockey player and songwriter, who died tragically in 2016. I feel very good about organizing a tournament that will be original and that will go this direction. »
Without the help of the city
Individual tickets and passes for the duration of the tournament will be sold to spectators. Daniel Fleury does not hide the fact that the financial success of this edition will have an impact on the next ones, and in particular on the presence of international teams.
If he salutes the support of his sponsors, Mr. Fleury says he is however disappointed not to be able to count on the support of the City of Quebec.
“We keep looking [d’autres commanditaires], he said. Yes, if the City had been a partner with us, it would have helped us sell, but our request was refused at the Major Events Office.
“We had few explanations [sur le refus de la Ville]. What we learned is that our project did not qualify. It is perhaps up to us to prove ourselves, to become a must and an indispensable,” continued the managing director.
