PBL Spring Meeting Wrap Up

On Thursday March 17^th 2011, the Powerline Baseball League (PBL) Executive along with the General Managers got together to finalize detail for the upcoming PBL season.

With a six-team 2011 schedule proposed and passed by the league and teams, it would appear that the rumors of the Sherwood Park Athletics re-entering the PBL after a lengthy absence would not come true. With no representation at the Spring Meeting, Sherwood Park will have to look at a 2012 entrance into the league as the PBL has voted not to allow an extension to the franchise as in 2010. One would have to wonder though if between now and the start of the year, if Sherwood Park was able to get enough kids together and wanted to enter, would the PBL hold it’s ground with regards to the decision?

Larry Lewsaw will chair a joint PBL/BRL (Battle River League) committee whose purpose is to finalize logistics between the two leagues for the annual all-star game as well as create a plan for the proposed PBL vs. BRL Championship Series in August. Much like the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the PBL/BRL All-Star Game winner will receive home field advantage in the series. The league is hoping that the small twist to the All-Star Game, assuming the PBL vs. BRL Championship Series actually gains steam, would produce more urgency in the PBL to send the best players and to play the game to win. Although a set date has not been firmed up, August 13-14^th has been proposed.

Teams will once again choose two players to attend the All-Star game while the league will vote on the pitching staff. The PBL All-Stars manager (2011 will see Steve Pahl once again at the helm after the 2010 PBL title was captured by the Milleteers) will then have the ability to fill the roster based on needs for the team, something that traditionally has not occurred with the PBL All-Star team.

Other small items that were decided on by the Executive and teams were to once again to affiliate the PBL with Baseball Alberta for the upcoming season and a turn down of a proposed Pitcher of the Year Award. The teams for various reasons quickly shot down the award, which was to be handed out to the PBL’s best pitcher.

As predicted, the PBL did not make any drastic changes, and maybe it did not have to as the league has taken some fairly large steps in the right direction in the recent years.

Rebel Management Takes A Leadership Role

With Bardo Athletics Ray Lehman and Mike Leclaire stepping down from their roles as league secretary and treasurer respectively, Rebel General Manager Corey Epp and Manager Kevin Reinholt stepped up. Reinholt and Epp will step into the void left by Lehman as secretary, while Bardo Athletics’ Craig Neufeld will take over the PBL financials as treasurer.

Reinholt and Epp were instrumental in bringing baseball back to Ryley in the form of the Rebels since a hiatus after the 2002 season. Epp, a long time Tofield Laker, and Reinholt a former Bardo Athletic, will provide a fresh insight into the league with the hope of continuing the growth of the league in the future.