Play ball: Baseball PEI registration numbers on the rise

The sport of baseball is still proving to be popular across the Island and even more so this summer saysBaseball PEI'sexecutive director.

Randy Byrne says the organizationhasalready reached the level of sign ups it had last season and he expects more.

Baseball PEI isexpecting to have 10per cent more players sign upbefore theteams begin playing in July.

Increase in players

Byrne said he thinks it could hit 2,000players for the 2017 season, up from 1,800 last year.

"I think baseball is in vogue right now. I think, although the Blue Jays have been struggling a little bit, they've been
good the past three years," said Byrne.

"And when you walk around, you go to fields and clinics and practices, you see a lot of Blue Jays gear on, and people are just talking about the Blue Jays a lot. And we're getting baseball into the school system."

Blue Jays camp

Baseball is being played for the first time in a trial program at intermediate schools in the province.Play began on theweekend.

It has been played at high schools for three years now.

"That's a lot of extra kids who may normally not play baseball during the summer who's playing at a school setting, and hopefully they enjoy it and want to go play then in the summer through our Baseball PEI program."

Byrne is also crediting other things for the increased sign ups, including having more teams so players don't have to travel as far to play games.

Byrne said the Blue Jays will be back to offer a SuperCampon August 9 and 10.

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