Baseball diamonds coming and going

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This article was published 20/06/2024 (351 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One diamond is getting added to the Southeast while another is getting removed.

Lorette’s two baseball games at a time days are over, with one of the diamonds being removed in favour of soccer pitches.

Lorette’s original arena, serving hockey and ringette players since 1964, isn’t getting demolished during the new arena’s construction, so the new arena, which should break ground later this year, needs room. The RM of Tache announced at its June 11 council meeting that the arena will be built where the smallest soccer fields are.

The four pitches, designed for the youngest future soccer pros will be removed and rebuilt where one of the diamonds is. The infield dirt, fences and dugouts will be switched out for more comfortable grass.

“They don’t really need a lot, it’s not like they need a regulation soccer pitch,” said Ward 4 Coun. Colleen Jolicoeur. “They just need space, it’s just the little ones who are just ball-touching.”

According to CAO Ken Allen, the project will cost $8,000.

“It’s going to be a big need for the community,” said Allen.

Lorette’s soccer program has continued to grow in recent years, and removing the pitches entirely wasn’t even close to being on the table.

“It’s all part of maintaining the programming that we have going on right now so we can continue going during and after the construction process,” said Mayor Armand Poirier.

The diamonds in Lorette aren’t used for any level of organized baseball, but they have been a place for pickup games and family tournaments for decades.

Tache also announced that the football field behind the town’s high school will be available for soccer on an emergency basis.

Although Lorette’s long-lasting diamond is getting permanently closed, another one is being permanently opened.

Arnaud is getting a getting a brand-new baseball diamond.

The 30-person community received a $5,000 donation from ADAMA Canada as part of their Stomping Grounds program.

“It started with the decision to update the play structure for the kids at the park and it kind of snowballed from there,” said President of the Arnaud Community Improvement Committee Chris Delaquis. “We noticed shortly after the play structure was completed that we had families coming from all over the RM to play on it.”

The new diamond will have a new location for the backstop and dugouts. The change for the backstop was a priority for the project, as it currently has players smacking baseballs toward Arnaud’s playground and community centre.

“Projects like this don’t happen without fundraising and volunteer time and there is only so much of that in a small community,” Delaquis said.

Delaquis said the slowpitch league that plays in Arnaud brings in 50 people per game night, transforming the small settlement into a vibrant sport-loving neighbourhood at its Thursday matches.

ADAMA Canada donated to 22 communities in Canada this year, including four in Manitoba. Virden is getting a new playground, Oak River a new ice plant and Oakville is receiving help with a new daycare.

“We know that without the tireless work of community members, many of these projects wouldn’t be possible,” said ADAMA Canada Marketing Lead Jodi Starodub in a press release. “It brings us great joy to be able to support those unsung heroes and help bring the dreams of small towns to life.”