That optimism is very well placed, too. After the success they managed to put together last season, both in putting together a modified season for their 350-plus players and avoiding the COVID-19 pandemic in the process, it’s pretty much a given that ball will be back this spring.
And that’s exactly what MJLL president Tony Dreger is looking forward to.
“With the winter we’re going through and without a lot going on, kids not able to play any games, I think the kids are going to be excited about ball this year,” Dreger said Wednesday afternoon. “We’re open for registration, we’re planning on having a regular season within the restrictions and whatever the government is going to guideline us too. We had one last year and we’re confident we’ll have a season this year, so we’re rocking and rolling, we’re moving forward and we’re excited about it.”
First things first, though.
The MJLL annual general meeting is next up on the docket and is slated to take place on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Like every event of its kind in these times, the meeting will be held over Zoom, with participants asked to send an e-mail to [email protected] to confirm their attendance and receive the meeting link.
In addition to going over the 2020 financials, a host of vacant positions will need to be filled, including Learn to Play Coordinator, Junior Rookie Coordinator, Senior Rookie Coordinator, Equipment Manager, Tournament Coordinator and Fundraising Coordinator.
Those interested in any of those positions are asked to email the above address by Feb. 8.
Registration for the coming campaign opened on New Year’s Day and is ongoing, with the early bird deadline and $50 off the registration fee of $225 set for Feb. 28. You can register by visiting http://www.mjlittleleague.com/content/Registration and if there are any questions, you can e-mail [email protected].
When things do get going this spring, you can expect plenty of high hopes for local squads on the diamond, something that extends into the summer team program that famously ended up at the Little League Canada championships in 2019.
“If we could have had provincials last year, honestly, I think we could have been back to Canadians again, we could have had another good run at ‘er,” Dreger said.
“But in the end, we had a successful eight weeks, no one got sick in that time, and to me, that’s awesome. So we’re banking on that happening against this year, and if there are tournaments or playoff or whatever, we’ll see what the government allows us to do.”
For the latest updates and information on the coming campaign -- including information surrounding COVID protocols and the like -- be sure to visit their website at www.mjlittleleague.com and visit their Facebook page at moosejawlittleleague.
