By JAMES TUBB on August 2, 2024.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb Some of Alberta’s top U15 baseball talent will be on display in the city this weekend. The Baseball Alberta U15AA provincial championships are being held in Medicine Hat at Kin Coulee Park, with the first game starting today at 3 p.m. and the finals wrapping up Sunday at 6 p.m. The tournament, hosted by the Medicine Hat Big League, features the Medicine Hat Majestics and five visiting teams: the Lloydminster Twins Red, Webber Wildcats from Calgary, Black Gold 47’s Black from Leduc, Strathmore Reds and YQL Sluggers. Majestics off-field manager Chad Nelson says a lot of planning and prep work has been underway the past two months leading up to what he says will be an exciting weekend. “This is actually the first provincial championship that Medicine Hat Big League has hosted with Baseball Alberta,” Nelson said. “We’ve done lots of Legion and Little League stuff but the first one that we’ve done for Baseball Alberta, so we want to do a do a good job of showcasing our city to the new baseball organization in the city. Nelson says the Baseball Alberta level and the Majestics team in Medicine Hat is for the middle ground between Little League and American Legion, trying to give kids the opportunity to get to the level where they can find success at Legion without being thrown to the wolves. “We wanted to kind of keep up a stream of young talent for the Monarchs and Knights, we see ourselves as a feeder program,” Nelson said. “Being able to provide them with layers who are ready to play at that level, when they get there and make those levels more competitive.” The Majestics play at 6 p.m. tonight against Lloydminster and 6 p.m. Saturday against Webber before pool play wraps and playoffs start Sunday. Ahead of the Majestics’ game tonight, they’ll be hosting an opening ceremonies for the tournament. Nelson says all baseball fans are welcomed and encouraged to watch the high-level baseball, and tips his cap to Big League Medicine Hat for its support. “They’ve really been a massive supporter of what we do, it’s something new for them,” Nelson said. “They’ve really taken the reins, and our focus still is on on Legion baseball. We just want to help those teams get better by providing them with more talent.” 12