A reminder to fans of the grand old game that the 17th annual BC’s Best Quality Foods Baseball Classic takes over Springwood Park Friday through Monday.
Hosted by the Parksville Royals Baseball Club, the home team opens the big annual 10-team tourney Friday at 6 p.m. against the Okanagan Athletics (local pitcher Mitchell Powelson gets the start). The Royals’ return to Inouye/Wallace Field for game two Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against the defending tournament champion Okotoks Dawgs of Alberta.
On Sunday the Royals face the North Delta Blue Jays at high noon and follow that up with a game against the Strathmore Reds at 2:30 p.m.
The tournament playoffs get underway Monday morning with the championship game starting at 12:30 p.m.
“We’re playing very well so the kids are looking forward to it. It’s always nice to play at home, and it’s good entertaining baseball,” said Wallace.
Always a great atmosphere and one of the most scouted tournament for high school aged players in Canada with representatives from MLB teams, there is a concession on sight as well as 50/50 draws. Unlike years past, the entire tournament will be played out in Parksville, with no games slated for Nanaimo.
The local Shriners will be back out flipping flapjacks Sunday morning from 7:30 to 10 a.m. serving up their legendary pancake breakfast ($5 per person).
DIAMOND BITS
Royals’ ace Clayton Isherwood won’t be in the Royals’ lineup this weekend as he leaves today (Tuesday) with Team Canada for the annual Dominican Summer League Camp and returns May 27.
‘Ish’ is scheduled to start two games for the Jr. National Team in the DSLC.
On May 22 he faces the Atlanta Braves development team, and on May 26 he duels the LA Dodgers.
Isherwood is the seventh Royal to be selected to the Junior National baseball team, including five in the last four years, which is the most by far of any team on the Island.
This is Isherwood’s second year with the Jr. Nats. Deep Bay standout Kevin Biro, who is having an outstanding season, was selected to the squad two years ago and is having a great season for the Royals.
“We will miss his arm, he’s a dominant pitcher in the league and our number one starter, but he misses a lot of time (away with the Jr. Nats), and the kids have stepped up ... it’s a great opportunity for Clayton,” said Royals’ skipper Dave Wallace, “and it’s also a great opportunity for other starters on our team to get more time on the hill.