OLDS — Olds Minor Baseball has a problem many organizations might envy -- more applicants for their annual AA Spitfire Summer Classic fundraising ball tournament than they have ability to accommodate them.
This year’s second annual classic was held June 29-July 2.
A full slate of 44 teams entered from Edmonton to Lethbridge, including an Alberta Women’s team which entered in the U18 division to get in some extra preparation for upcoming Canada Games.
Olds teams won the U11 and U15 divisions of the tournament.
Olds Minor Baseball had a total of six teams entered in the tournament, including two teams in the U11 and U13 divisions as well as one each in U15 and U18 divisions.
“I would rate the tournament a great success. Weather was good for the most part,” tournament coordinator Levi Ogilvie wrote in an email.
“We had competitive divisions that led to great baseball games and an amazing facility at Rotary (Athletic) Park.
Ogilvy said visiting teams gave “glowing reviews” of the baseball facilities in Olds and “everyone is excited to come back next year.”
In fact, teams love the facilities and the tournament so much that at 44 teams, organizers have reached the limit of how many they can invite.
“The amount of diamonds we have in Olds limits this tournament (from) expanding any more than it already is. I believe we have reached our max allowable,” Ogilvy wrote.
“We had many teams from Saskatchewan and B.C. reach out to enter, however the tournament was already full. They are looking to enter next year.”
Ogilvy expressed his gratitude for all the families in the Spitfires organization who volunteered, thus making the tournament such a success.
“A tournament of this magnitude takes many volunteer hours and without those volunteers it simply wouldn’t happen,” he wrote.
He was also grateful for all the help rendered during the weekend by town staff.
Town of Olds Deputy Mayor Darren Wilson had praise for the Spitfires Summer Classic AA baseball tournament.
During town council’s July 4 policies and priorities meeting, Wilson said he attended the tournament for a couple of days.
“(It was) a great event for the town," Wilson said, adding that it was “well attended, and everything looked good.”
