INNISFAIL – Ball season is here and there’s a new opportunity for kids with Innisfail’s premier Merchants and Trappers baseball teams.
Boys and girls between seven and 14 years of age are invited to apply to be a mini Merchant or a junior Trapper this summer.
“They don’t need to play baseball. It’s open to anybody,” said Kristen Spatz, organizer of the summer event. “It takes place every Merchant and Trapper home game this season. There’ll be one child chosen to be a mini Merchant or a junior Trapper for a part of a game.
“Once applications are in, there will be a random draw,” she added, noting the contest is free and chosen participants will be notified a week before a game.
The opportunity will be held every week during the regular season and will provide children with a chance to meet the team, join them for warm-ups, deliver a lineup card (to the opposing team), sit on the bench with the team for one inning, have a photo taken with a player and watch the rest of the game from the stands.
In addition, kids will receive a mini Merchant or a junior Trapper T-shirt. Two Innisfail businesses, Bulldog Industries and Imagine Laserworks, stepped up to be sponsors for the contest.
Spatz said it would be great to encourage more children and families to be involved with the Merchants and Trappers and show their support for their local baseball teams.
“Both the Trappers and Merchants liked the idea. They thought it was a great opportunity to get kids involved with their local organizations,” said Spatz. “Hopefully it will bring more families out and more community involvement with Innisfail's two baseball teams.”
This is the first year for the contest, noted Spatz, adding they hope the summer contest is a success for the community.
“It will bring some attention to Innisfail’s junior AAA and senior AA baseball teams,” said Spatz. “We’re hoping that it goes well and we’ll continue it next year.”
For more information, email Kristen Spatz at [email protected]
