Everyone Welcome!

The Thunder Bay International Baseball Association will be holding their Annual Meeting on Wednesday February 25th at the 55+ Centre, 700 River St. at 7:00p.m.

TBIBA is continuing their preparations for the 2017 IBAF 18U Baseball World Cup to be held here in Thunder Bay. For more information, email info@worldbaseball2017.com.

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Thunder Bay to Host 2017 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup

Download Media Release The Thunder Bay International Baseball Association (TBIBA) is pleased to announce that the World Baseball Softball Confederation has chosen Thunder Bay as its host for the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup. Participation from all baseball playing regions of the world, namely Asia, the South Pacific, Africa, Europe, North America, Central America (Caribbean) and South America is expected.  The biennial event will take place over eleven days in late August concluding on the Labour Day weekend in September, 2017. “The Thunder Bay International Baseball Association is proud to have been selected to host this high caliber international event for the second time. This day is a true testimony of the event hosting ability of the TBIBA and is a tribute to the high quality volunteers that step up to assist Thunder Bay event hosts like us to operate high profile events.” stated Larry Hebert, President of the TBIBA. “With the success of the 2010 World Juniors fresh in the minds of our citizens, the TBIBA looks forward to hosting another great event for Thunder Bay residents and visitors from near and far.” The 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup is the re-branded version of the very successful IBAF World Junior Baseball Championships held in Thunder Bay in the summer of 2010. Since 2010, the event has been held twice, once in Seoul, Korea in 2012 and last summer in Taiwan.  The 2015 event will be held in Japan. The event has a long history going back to 1981. Since 2000, the 12 team event has been held every two years with the exception of one occasion and involves the 18 and Under National teams of member countries of the International Baseball Federation.  The tournament is regarded as a launching pad for players aspiring to play professionally. Players such as Larry Walker, Ryan Dempster, Russell Martin and Brett Lawrie are among the more than 50 Canadians who have participated in the event before moving on to sign professional contracts. The announcement from the TBIBA comes after many years of preparation and hosting experience that includes the IBAF World Juniors (2010), Warm Up to the Worlds (2008), Baseball Canada Cup (2004), Gore Motors Honda Nations Cup (2002) and the Three Nations Cup (2000) and five previous international bid attempts.  For more information on the TBIBA, go to www.worldbaseball2017.com. For more information, contact Warren Philp,  Executive Director Phone (807) 632-3998-cell, info@worldbaseball2017.com

TBIBA Donates to Three Groups for Baseball Development

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Three baseball organizations will benefit from a fund established by the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association (TBIBA) after the very successful 2010 World Junior Baseball Championships. District 3 Little League, the Lakehead University Baseball program and the Thunder Bay Umpires Association will share $5,000 which represents the awards for baseball programming and development in 2013.

“While event hosting continues to be a primary focus of the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association, the success of the World Juniors has allowed us to support baseball development in the community,” stated Larry Hebert, President of the TBIBA. “All three groups receiving funds this year are to be commended for their efforts to sustain and grow the game of baseball in our community,” added Hebert.

The three groups receiving funds this year from the TBIBA include District 3 Little League for their hosting of the 2013 Canadian Senior Little League Championships ($2,000), Lakehead University Baseball Program for their assistance with the baseball component of the Partners in Sport program that exposes students aged 9-12 to various sports ($2,000). The Thunder Bay District Catholic School Board and Lakehead University have spearheaded that program. Finally, the Thunder Bay Umpires Association will receive funds for umpire development as they work to sustain and develop the important function of umpiring to support baseball at all levels in Thunder Bay ($1,000). Every year, a new candidate will be chosen and presented with funds to assist local baseball development programs in Thunder Bay.  The candidates are chosen based on an application process. The application deadline is in the fall of each year.

Representatives of all three recipient groups will be in attendance at the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame to receive cheques from the TBIBA. Norm Randle, President of District 3 Little League and Dave Mack, Co-Chair of the Canadian Senior Little League Host Committee along with Jason Hart from Lakehead University Varsity Baseball and Ron Kowalchuk, President of the Thunder Bay Umpires Association will be on hand to answer questions from the media.

The TBIBA will also outline their recent efforts to host the 2013 IBAF 18U Baseball World Cup, recently awarded to Taiwan. For more information on the TBIBA, go to www.tbibaseball.ca.

2010 IBAF World Junior Baseball Championship Successes Presented to City Council

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A presentation by the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association to City Council on Monday night that included game tapes, photos, and audited financial statements focused on the successes of last year’s tournament and outlined a plan for dealing with the surplus that the event generated.

“Based on a number of factors including great weather, great awareness, reasonable ticket prices, and the fantastic success of Team Canada, we had between 45,000 and 50,000 people attend this event.  Together with the generous support of sponsors, we achieved a surplus for this event and the economic impact that was generated for the City of Thunder Bay and surrounding region is estimated to be between 6 and 7 million dollars”, indicated TBIBA’s Treasurer Doug Heath.

Warren Philp, Executive Director for the organization, spoke about the organization’s plans for the surplus.  “As per our agreement with Baseball Canada prior to hosting this event, we presented to them a cheque for over $47,000 which represented their share of the revenue that was generated.  In addition to keeping a reserve fund to help us organize future events, we’ve also started a local Baseball Development Fund as per our organization’s mandate.  We are happy to announce that our first recipient is Pro Kids, who will be receiving $5,000 earmarked for youth baseball programs.  Every year, a new candidate will be chosen and presented with funds to assist local baseball development programs in Thunder Bay.  The candidates are chosen based on an application process, which we are in the process of marketing now.”

Philp and Heath presented to the City a framed photo in appreciation of the support that was given to host this event and spoke about the legacy that the games have left.  “Baseball Central and Port Arthur Stadium both received hundreds of thousands of dollars in capital upgrades for this event.  This city can be proud, knowing it has two baseball complexes that are World class facilities.

Philp also spoke about a presentation made to the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.  Included with that presentation will be the donation of various items from the tournament, including game tapes.

For more information on the 2010 IBAF World Junior Baseball Championship, go to www.worldbaseball2010.com.