The fate of the 2021 Canadian championship at Layritz Park was sealed last week when Little League World Series organizers announced the event will proceed but that only U.S. teams would play in the famed tournament this year in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
It is the second consecutive year in which the Canadian Little League championship has been cancelled at Layritz.
“With Williamsport off the table, we’re not surprised by the decision,” said Layritz tournament chair Shannon Nakatsu.
The Canadian championship was scheduled for Aug. 5-14.
“We’ll probably be in a different world by August, but that doesn’t solve the lead-up period in which the regional and provincial tournaments would have to be held across Canada,” said Nakatsu.
“Little League baseball is currently not being played and that’s the biggest issue. So many things would have needed to happen before August.”
CBC broadcasts the playoff portion of the Canadian Little League championship. Bleachers seating up to 3,000 would have been installed to ring the Saanich diamond.
“I feel badly for the kids, again,” said Nakatsu.
“It’s a tough pill for them to swallow.”
Nakatsu said she is unsure of any future hosting bids by Layritz. Calgary was to host the 2021 championship but deferred to Layritz when the 2020 championship was cancelled due to the pandemic. Calgary was bumped back to 2022.
“There is a possibility we could approach Little League Canada with a request to host a future tournament. We’ll have to see if there is a desire among our board,” said Nakatsu.
The cancellation of the nationals does not rule out youth baseball being played this year.
“The cancellation of the tournaments at the national [level] does not preclude local leagues and districts from holding a regular season however modified, and if desired, district and provincial tournaments if safety plans are deemed fit and they follow national, provincial, and local health advisories,” said Little League Canada present Roy Bergerman, in statement.
“We have every hope that we can get all our children active through the summer of 2021”
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com