May 22, 2024 – 07:00
Action on the pitch this summer
Minor baseball is renewed
By: Jean-Philippe Morin
The Bas-Richelieu Amateur Baseball Association (ABABR) has decided to renew its image for the 2024 season. The Sorel-Tracy Mariniers will now wear the colors of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB).
For several years now, the ABABR had red and gray uniforms as well as black breeches and caps. Now, players will wear white pants as well as a navy blue cap in the colors of the Mariners with the “S” standing for Sorel-Tracy rather than Seattle.
Chairman of the board of directors (CA) for four years now, Carl Gendron is delighted with this change. “Two years ago, during an annual general meeting, there were 2-3 parents who talked about young people being hot wearing black pants in the sun. I already had in mind a change of image because in my opinion, ball pants are white or gray! So we discussed it in CA, we took the last year to prepare everything and we arrive this season with the new uniforms. They are really beautiful,” he rejoices.
Stability in registrations
On the region’s fields, we will find approximately the same number of players, around 130. “It looks the same from year to year. Of the 130 registrations, we have 30 in the Rallye-Cap category (4 to 7 years old), which is good for the next generation,” assures Carl Gendron.
Nine teams were formed: U9A, U9B, U11A, U11B, U13A, U13B, U15A, U18A and U18B. “It’s positive, I’m happy that we have two teams per category with an A and a B everywhere, except in the U15. We see that those who register for baseball re-register the following year, it is encouraging,” indicates the president of the CA.
Sorel minor baseball also produces elite players. For example, Pierre-Carl Gendron will play at the U18AAA level, while Nathan Provençal, Noah Marineau and Charles Robichaud will be part of a U18AA team. And even if there is no junior team at the ABABR, two players from the region will play in the junior AA category, Pierre-Alexandre Arpin and Alexis Boucher.
“We open registrations every year for juniors, but we don’t have enough young people. I think that next year, we will officially be able to have juniors,” hopes Mr. Gendron.
A busy stadium
The president of minor baseball wanted to clarify, during the interview, that the René-St-Germain stadium will be very busy this year. In addition to the Sorel-Tracy Marlins, who play at the senior level and do not fall under the ABABR, we will see U15A, U18A and U18B games from the Mariniers, but also U18AA and AAA games as well as junior AA.
“The population will be able to see some very good baseball at the stadium this summer. My son Pierre-Carl plays at the U18AAA level and we managed to bring eight of their games to the stadium, four doubleheaders. We will also have M18AA and junior AA games en masse,” insists Carl Gendron.
In addition, the ABABR is involved in the candidacy of the City of Sorel-Tracy to obtain the Quebec Games in the summer of 2027. A candidacy supported 100% by the organization.
Furthermore, according to our information, Nordic Park could accommodate another baseball field during the complete reconstruction of the stadium. Information that Carl Gendron did not deny. “With the Dorimène-Desjardins, Pelletier and des Trembles parks, in addition to the Lemieux park for the small categories, our facilities are adequate for the moment. We hope that the renovation of the stadium will be done for the Quebec Games in 2027. We will have nothing to envy of other cities,” he concludes.
2024-05-22 11:04:04
#Minor #baseball #renewed
