LIVERPOOL – Liverpool has a long history of baseball in the community, going back to the Liverpool Larrupers team who were Maritime Champions in 1939 and 1940.
Community members like John Long, president of the Liverpool Baseball Club, are working hard to continue the tradition of baseball excellence.
“We are encouraging all children that want to give baseball a try to come out for their age-appropriate team,” says Long.
Players do not need to have played before – all they need to have is a desire to have fun, learn and be part of a team, he adds.
Traditionally, Long says most of the teams play in the Southwest League that covers the area from Lockeport all the way around to Weymouth. In the last couple of years, the Southwest League has only had a couple U15 teams, but organizers are hoping that numbers improve this year.
New this year, the Liverpool Baseball club is planning on adding teams to the Bluenose League. This league encompasses all levels of baseball from 11U to 18U (mosquito to midget) in Nova Scotia, covering from North Sydney to Yarmouth and all points in between.
“This is the first year that we have considered entering teams in that league in a long time,” says Long.
The organization, he said, is hoping to put an 11U team and an 18U team into the league.
As a result, the Liverpool Baseball Club is looking for more players this year to make up all these teams.
“The response has been very positive, and we are very hopeful that both teams come to fruition,” says Long.
The Liverpool Baseball Club has teams for all levels and ages, including t-ball (ages 5-6), rookie (ages 7-9) mosquito - 11U (ages 10-11), peewee - 13U (ages 12-13), bantam - 15U (ages 14-15) and midget -18U (ages 16-18). Generally, players need to live in Queens County, says Long, but accommodations can be made for players from outside if no team is available in their area.
Registration will be held on March 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the community room at the Queens Place Emera Center. For more information, search for the Liverpool Baseball Club at leaguelineup.com.
