As part of their preparations for the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup, the Thunder Bay International Baseball Association (TBIBA) is pleased to announce they are hosting two games between a team made up of players from the Japanese Canadian Baseball League (JCBL) in Toronto and one from the Thunder Bay Baseball Association, the Wolves, a local travel team. Both games will form a double-header starting at 1:00 pm at the Port Arthur Stadium, Sunday August 2nd.
There is no fee for entry to the game. Bring the family to see some great baseball! Support your local Wolves and share in the excitement of a world class game right here in Thunder Bay!
“While the Japanese U18 National team was not present at the 2010 IBAF World Junior Baseball Championship in Thunder Bay, subject to qualifying, they will be present in 2017 as they have been at both the 2012 event in Korea and 2013 Worlds in Taiwan,” stated Larry Hebert, President of the TBIBA. “With Japan hosting the 2015 event in Osaka this August, the TBIBA has been working to strengthen their ties with the Japanese community in North America, especially in the Greater Toronto Area. These games in August exemplify this relationship building,” added Hebert.
“Our team is very excited about participating in the games in Thunder Bay and also to experience some Northwestern Ontario hospitality. Most of our players have not travelled far from the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario so the trip to Thunder Bay will represent a real unique thrill,” mentioned Koji Yamane, spokesman for the JCBL All Stars. The All Stars were represented at the media conference by Yugi Suzuki of the Thunder Bay Border Cats, whose older brother Daisuke Suzuki will be a member of the JCBL All Stars coming from Toronto.
Representatives of various baseball groups were present to participate in the announcement. The groups included TBIBA, TBBA, Thunder Bay Umpires Association, District 3 Little League, Lakers Travel Team Organization, Wolves Baseball Club and the Thunder Bay Border Cats. Furthermore, representatives from the City of Thunder Bay’s Sister Cities Committee and the Lakehead Japanese Cultural Association were also present.
Special note: At the same time as this announcement, outside the Port Arthur Stadium, the TBIBA raised the flags of the 12 countries participating in the 2015 WBSC U18 Baseball World Cup in Osaka Japan this August. The flags of Canada, United States, Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Italy, Czech Republic, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan were raised. The flags will fly until after the tournament is over. Warren Philp, Executive Director of the TBIBA, will be attending the tournament in Osaka that will run this year from August 28th to September 6th.
Click here to view the press release: TBIBA to Host Japanese Canadian Baseball League All Star Team August 2, 2021