The new president of the Williams Lake Minor Fastball Association is looking to bring the sport back to its former glory days in the lakecity.
Nick Surette, who took over as president of the WLMFA this year, wants to prove fastball is a strong sport in Williams Lake.
“I’m trying to promote ball again,” Surette said. “To show ball is a sport in this town. Not just hockey and soccer.”
Although he’s hosted multiple registration days already, Surette said the league, which is slated to start in the last week of April and run until the end of June, isn’t seeing the numbers he was anticipating.
“I want softball back,” he said. “I think it’s something every kid should have a chance to play and it goes hand-in-hand with hockey and golf. It’s a hand-eye, skilled sport and it’s fun. It’s not like we don’t have the competitive athletes. We could develop it and be a pretty tough community to play against.” In 2014 Surette coached an under-18 team to a silver medal at provincials, however, since then those players have all aged out of the league.
“We have new coaches and people volunteering — younger parents that have played fastball and ball,” he said. “We have parents that are familiar with the sport, we’re looking into possibly getting some new equipment and upgrading some things [at the Dave Means Ballpark].”
Surette said he’s also looking at hosting a number of clinics dealing with coaching, umpiring and pitching.
Currently Surette said there are enough players registered for T-Ball, under-eight, under-10 and under-12 teams.
“I have enough for a team in each division type of thing so far,” he said.
“I have about 30 to 40 more registrations I know are coming in. We have the potential of having 100 Mile House, Quesnel, Prince George and possibly Clearwater wanting to play games with us.
“We have the potential for a fun year. We just don’t have the kids.”
The WLMFA will be hosting another registration session this Saturday, April 15 downstairs in Boitanio Mall next to the 4-H petting zoo from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
For more information on the WLMFA visit its Facebook page by searching “Williams Lake Minor Fastball Association.”