Sail up for Minor Ball registration this weekend

February 20, 2016 · 0 Comments

Shelburne’s Junior Schooners are excited to enter its third season and meet new players and parents – and if you want to be a part of it, this weekend’s your chance!

Schooners Minor Softball founder and president Chris Wight says the League is looking forward to the approach of fast pitch season, inviting families to come out and register their kids, starting this weekend, February 20 from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at the Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex (CDRC.)

Two years ago, Chris started the Jr Schooners “in the hope of giving the kids of Shelburne and surrounding area a safe and fun place to learn to play the game of fast pitch softball, at all skill levels.

Jr Schooners Minor Softball is a travelling house league fast pitch softball organization playing in the Bluewater District Minor Softball Association, which means competing in surrounding areas no more than a 35-minute drive from Shelburne.

This season, Wight is excited to announce the league will host an OASA Provincial Qualifier tournament for the first time in the area.

“This will host some great ball games and players in the U10 division [and] will be a great opportunity for kids in the community to watch and participate in a great weekend of ball,” says Mr. Wight, who adds he has been “fortunate to work with great people” in the growing association.

“I have been lucky enough to find executive members and coaches that share the same passion and vision as I do when it comes to teaching players proper techniques, and fundamentals,” he says. “[I want to] ensure that the kids have fun playing one of the best games summer time brings.”

According to Wight, the coaching philosophy encourages members “all be taught proper fundamentals to ensure they all have the chance to fulfill their full potential as players.”

He says this holds whether a player is “in their first year of T-ball or their tenth year playing midget.” Because of this, “with every practise and game, its easy to see the major improvements in each of our players through out the season,” he says.

Wight says he is grateful for the coaches “who have taken part in helping our players in their journey” through “hours of practises and games.” It is the coaches, who “help the players see their potential while having as much fun as possible.”

“We thank you all as we couldn’t do it without you,” says Wight. “Our executives are hard at work preparing for the new seasons registrations, booking coaching and player development clinics, as well as community involvement and fund raising projects.”

The League has been involved in Fiddlefest, the Easter Egg Hunt, and most recently Shelbrrrfest, where they hosted a snowball throwing competition. Wight acknowledged the hard work of five women who are “a pleasure to work with” and “make things happen”: Amanda Galbraith, Crystal Wight, Trish King, Lindsay Wegener, and Shawnette Crouse.

“These ladies keep things running and bring excellent ideas and work ethics to our organization. I am excited to work with them all this year and hopefully many more to come.”
Jr Schooners invites everyone to come and see them at the upcoming registrations upstairs in the Shelburne Arena (CDRC) on the following dates:
February 20, from 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
March 10, from 6.00 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.
March 19, from 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.
April 21, from 6.00 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.

It is recommended that players register early to ensure they get on one of the “learn to play” house league teams.

For more information, contact an executive member or check out their website
www.jrschooners.com, their Facebook page at Jr Schooners Minor Softball, or email them at
shelburneminorsoftball@yahoo.ca.
By Marni Walsh