RM and parish play ball on St Malo baseball deal

It is a heavenly deal 20 years in the making for St Malo ball players.

Seven acres of land along Highway 59 near the St Malo shrine and grotto are to be leased by the Catholic Parish of St Malo to the RM of De Salaberry for one dollar barring any last-minute changes.

The RM council signed off on the 21-year lease agreement at its April 22 meeting.

The agreement stipulates the land will only be used for a baseball facility and community recreation events. It also cannot be used for any purpose “that is inconsistent with the Catholic faith as determined by the landlord acting reasonably.”

St Malo ward Coun. Gaby Tétrault said there would be two diamonds built on the land.

“Especially if you build it there I’m sure you’ll start seeing more adult groups, pick-up games and whatever else,” he said.

The main user would be the Rat River Rebels minor baseball teams, who after losing space at St Malo School have two new places to play in St Malo and just outside St Pierre after the village also decided to build ball diamonds near the community gardens.

The parish has priority for the parking on the land to use for things like pilgrimages and other church events.

“When needed, vehicles may park on the baseball diamonds and any landscaping repairs if any, remain the sole responsibility of the tenant,” reads the lease.

Anything built on the land goes to the church after the lease is up if it is not renewed. Both the RM and Parish can terminate the lease with 12 to 24 months notice.

Baseball used to be played on this land, but stopped in the mid-2000s. The lease is intended to bring baseball back for decades to come.