Senior baseball season is just around the corner and Barrhead Orioles governor Joey Greilach says he can’t wait for the first pitch.
This season marks the third year since the return of the team to the North Central Alberta Baseball League (NCABL), and this year, Barrhead will be hosting the league’s all-star game. In the meantime, the Orioles hit the field for their home opener on Tuesday, May 17 verses the Edmonton Athletics.
“Next year is the league’s 50th anniversary,” Greilach said, adding league commissioner Paul Riopel had expressed an interest in having some of the festivities associated with the league brought back to the Barrhead and Westlock area.
“Barrhead and Westlock have been quite central to the league for quite a few years and our commissioner basically encouraged us to do what we could,” he added.
In addition to the all-star game and groundwork for the 50th anniversary, Greilach said the Orioles would also be hosting a tournament and other events during the Blue Heron Fair Days festival.
“It was something that we have done in the past, but for the last few years wasn’t there,” he said, adding it always made him excited to watch the Orioles play when he was younger. “It should be good to have the tournament back as part of the fair again. It will be something else for people to come to.”
Greilach said this year is going to be a busy one for the Orioles and hoped that more people would come out to the games when they are in town.
Last year, the Orioles went 7-11.
“It is always nice to see local faces,” he said. “Hopefully our record is better.”
Something for people to consider however, he said, is the fact the league is looking for umpires.
“The league hosts an annual clinic that is free and we are always looking,” Greilach said. “Even if it isn’t someone looking to umpire this year, the league wants to develop some younger people to ump in the future as well.”
Anyone interested in participating in the clinic for umpires should contact Greilach at (780) 305-6304 or Warren Warehime, at (780) 674-8522.
