Elementary school students have taken over baseball diamonds in Orillia this week for the three-pitch area championships.
On Tuesday, 12 senior boys' teams from area schools were competing for the championships at Kitchener Park. Severn Shores Public School won the senior girls’ tournament Monday.
The junior girls play Wednesday, and the junior boys wrap up the week Thursday. About 46 teams will have participated by week's end.
"Every year, we do this during the first week of June," said Michael Davidson, a teacher with Marchmont Public School and convener of the event. "Teams begin practising and preparing their teams during the first week of May."
Davidson says the tournament aims to give students teamwork and hand-eye co-ordination skills.
"It's an opportunity to get everyone outside," he said. "There's a sense of camaraderie among the players."
The tournament gives players confidence heading into their Grade 8 or 9 year, he says.
"It does a lot for self-esteem. It allows kids an opportunity to excel at something and to be a part of a team," he said.
Davidson says there was no clear favourite to win the boys' tournament Tuesday.
"It's hard to know because we only play so many exhibition games," he said. "Some teams can be competitive, and others are just here to have fun."
When students graduate from elementary school, Davidson hopes they look back on the three-pitch tournament as one of the highlights of their school career.
"I know a couple of students at Orillia Secondary School who still talk to me about playing baseball at school," he said. "For some of the kids, it will be the only team they play on."
Davidson hopes the area championships will help grow the sport locally and that players will eventually join the Orillia Slo-Pitch League.
He thanks the tournament administration staff, the City of Orillia, and volunteers who have helped make the area championships possible for students.
"There are a lot of people who helped me put all the pieces into place," he said.
Isaac Venderboss, a Grade 7 student at Regent Park Public School in Orillia, had never played slo-pitch before this school year.
"I just wanted to try something new," he said. "We've been doing pretty well as a team."
Venderboss, who was playing third base Tuesday, says playing slo-pitch has been a "great experience" for him.
"It's been nice getting closer to some of my classmates," he said. "I've learned more about some of my friends and the different sports they've played."
Cole Garraway, a Grade 8 student at Monsignor Lee Catholic School in Orillia, plays hardball outside of school. He says slo-pitch has been a great sport to play in school.
"It's easy to play," he said. "It's easy to learn for people trying it for the first time."
Garraway, a pitcher, enjoyed the friendly atmosphere at the area championships.
"It's nice to meet people from other schools," he said. "I have some other friends on the other teams, so it's nice seeing them."
The county championships take place June 17 and 19. All local teams are eligible to participate.
