Back in the swing of things: Youth baseball returns to the diamond in the Kingston region
At Megaffin Park, the Kingston Colts are back in the swing of things, as the start of the new baseball season gets underway in the city.
Youth baseball has returned to the Kingston region, and under the pandemic the sport is proving more popular than ever.
The Kingston Baseball Association (KBA) says that more than 600 players have signed up this season, ranging in age from 4 to 18 years old.
Jim Hunt, who is the senior vice-president of baseball operations, tells CTV News Ottawa that’s a few hundred more than last season.
Hunt says that he feels that’s because it’s a sport families can rally behind together.
"I think baseball puts families in a good state of mind," he explains. "It’s a family event. Kids, although it’s a team sport of nine, families can come around the field and enjoy watching their children play, and after 18 months of COVID it’s nice to get out on the field."
On Saturday, the Kingston Colts 16U team took to the field to play a game, one of the first they’ve played in two years, under COVID-19 restrictions.
Last year held a shortened season, and players were placed in a bubble of select teams, meaning there was no real season, explains 16-year-old Ethan Driscoll.
"It was tough. We played the same three teams all year. And so it was just the same spots every time and nothing really meant anything. But we’re in a real season this year. So we have something to win."
Now, they’re allowed to play games with teams from across the province. For Driscoll, he says it means getting back to the game he loves with his friends.
"Really excited. It’s good to be back in sports," he says. "The environment around the ball park is really cool. You get to hear the cheering, so you feel good when you get a hit and stuff."
Hunt says there are more than 32 house league teams and 10 representative teams, with kids coming from areas like Kingston, Napanee, Gananque and Wolfe Island.
"It’s amazing," he explains. "It’s a wonderful group of families we have the privilege to have with KBA. It’s great to get the kids out and get them some sort of normalcy."
For the player’s parents, that normalcy, is something to cheer about.
Sara Sutcliffe says her son, Ethan, is happy to be back.
"He’s happy and we’re all happy," she laughs. "We were like arguing about who was going to take him to practice because we were just so excited to get out of the house."
Maggie Duffy says seeing her son Liam with his friends and getting outside is the goal.
"I’m absolutely ecstatic," she says. "For me and our family it’s about mental health. And him getting back into sports has increased his happiness like 100 per cent."
For players like 16-year-old Matt Mignault, just being able to start the season means it’s already a home run.
"Just the feel of the game. Getting to meet new friends, getting to meet new people," says Mignault.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.