2016 Americas Master Games Baseball THE BOYS OF SUMMER ARE BACK...

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1 2016 Americas Master Games Baseball THE BOYS OF SUMMER ARE BACK.... THEY RE JUST A LITTLE OLDER THAN THEY USED TO BE.... THE CITY OF VANCOUVER, SPORT BC, AND THE LOCAL MASTERS BASEBALL COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE INAUGURAL AMERICAS MASTERS GAMES TO BE HELD FROM: AUGUST 26 TH TO SEPTEMBER 4 TH, MASTERS BASEBALL MASTERS BASEBALL WILL BE ONE OF THE 24 SPORTS INVOLVED IN THIS CELEBRATION OF MASTERS ATHLETICS. BASEBALL TEAMS WILL BE PART OF A LARGER SPORTING EVENT ALONG WITH ATHLETES FROM OTHER SPORTS AND THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF VISITING A WORLD-CLASS TOURIST DESTINATION. THE AMERICAS MASTERS GAMES WILL EMPHASIZE PARTICIPATION, COMPETITION, AND ENJOYING THE COMPANY OF FELLOW COMPETITORS. DIVISIONS AND DATES 45+ DIVISION AUGUST 26 TH TO AUGUST 31 ST, DIVISION AUGUST 28 TH TO SEPTEMBER 2 ND, 2016 LINKS 2016 AMERICAS MASTERS GAMES AMG BASEBALL CONTACT DAN TAYLOR 2016 AMG BASEBALL TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AMGBASEBALL2016@GMAIL.COM

2 Competition Categories The baseball competition at the 2016 Americas Masters Games will be organized into two age divisions 45+ Years of Age and 55+ Years of Age. Age will be defined as of December 31 st, No under- age players are permitted. Dates of Competitions 2016 AMG 45+ Division Friday, August 26 th to Wednesday, August 31 st, AMG 55+ Division Sunday, August 28 th to Friday, September 2 nd, 2016 Venues and Dates Park Date Times UBC Friday, August 26 8:30am to 6:30pm Saturday, August 27 th 9:00am to 3:00pm Sunday, August 28 th 8:30am to 6:30pm Monday, August 29 th 8:30am to 6:30pm Tuesday, August 30 th 8:30am to 6:30pm Wednesday, August 31 8:30am to 6:30pm Park Date Times Hillcrest Friday, August 26 Saturday, August 27 th 8:30am to 3:00pm* Sunday, August 28 th Monday, August 29 th Tuesday, August 30 th Wednesday, August 31 st Thursday, September 1 Friday, September 2 Park Date Times Trafalgar Friday, August 26 Saturday, August 27 8:30am to 3:00pm* Sunday, August 28 th Monday, August 29 th Tuesday, August 30 th Wednesday, August 31 Thursday, September 1 Friday, September 2 *Extra time allotted expect to end at 5:00PM * **Practice Times Trafalgar Park Thursday, August 25 th 9:00am 7:00pm to be confirmed

3 Venue Locations UBC Baseball Field UBC Campus West 16 th Avenue and East Mall Road The first artificial baseball field in British Columbia Home of the UBC Thunderbirds Varsity Baseball program FieldTurf surface for natural grass feel and all-weather use Batting cage practice area and 6 Bullpen mounds Dimensions: RF 102m (335 feet); CF 122m (400 feet); LF 102m (335 feet) The field is completely fenced, is a top flite surface, is low maintenance, and there are many supporting facilities close by washrooms, change rooms, bleachers and the baseball complex area is quite accessible for automobiles. During the proposed dates for the baseball competition (August 26 September 1 st ) university is not in session. Hillcrest Park Location 4501 Clancy Loranger Way at Midlothian Avenue

4 The baseball diamond is located in the north-west corner of the park and the other facilities being used at the park will make this location a hub of the 2016 Americas Masters Games besides baseball, sports include hockey and curling. Hillcrest Park is the best available adult-sized baseball diamond in the City of Vancouver. It is located in the top left hand corner of the photo above the other diamonds are not adult fields. The main user group is Vancouver Community Baseball and it is also used by 3 adult teams in the Lower Mainland Baseball Association. Minor baseball president, Mr. Bill Robinson, plays on one of the LMBA teams and will likely play in the Masters Games. He fully supports the use of the Hillcrest diamond as the tournament s main diamond and as tournament headquarters. The park is available for maximum daily use (8:00am 8:00pm) as all youth baseball programs have ended in early August. The diamond is completely fenced and the outfield dimensions (310 in left and right, 340 in right-center and left-center, and 360 in center field) are well suited to tournament user groups. There are enclosed dugouts, bull pen warm up areas, bleachers, and a generally consistent playing surface. The diamond is quite centrally located and relatively easy to access by traffic from downtown Vancouver and surrounding areas. There are water outlets on the diamond that could be used for watering down the playing surface prior to games. Parking is concentrated around Nat Bailey Stadium and the Hillcrest Community Center and the area will be a Games hub in addition to baseball, curling and hockey will be taking place

5 and Nat Bailey Stadium is home to the Vancouver Canadians, a professional baseball team in the North West League. There is also neighbourhood parking adjacent to Hillcrest Park but teams are advised to arrive early as the area around the park could be very busy during the Games. Trafalgar Park Location 4170 Trafalgar Avenue also 2482 Oliver Crescent, Vancouver Trafalgar Park 2610 West 23 rd Avenue at Valley Drive Vancouver Community Baseball incorporated this new diamond (2015) into their program this year. It was designed for midget level use (16, 17, 18 years of age) and is an adult sized diamond 90 foot bases, 60 6 pitching mound with base, home plate, and mound cut-outs. The majority of the playing surface is grass and the backstop and dugouts are well-suited to adult use. The park is located in a residential neighbourhood and has been well maintained by Vancouver Community Baseball. Trafalgar Park is a new park which has been well maintained by the minor baseball group. Infield grass surface is quite level and should offer a consistent playing surface. Outfield areas are level as well and do not seem to pose any significant issues for outfield play. (1) Backstop height, construction, and distance beyond home plate and foul lines is well suited for adult purposes. (2) Dugouts are enclosed and do not present any safety issues. (3) Equipment storage container is well stocked and available for use during the tournament. (4) There is a very accessible washroom and changing room area directly across from the baseball diamond and its use would not require portable washrooms to be added for the tournament. (5) Parking is neighbourhood along streets bordering the baseball diamond. Additional Information 2016 Amercias Masters Games Baseball 2016 Americas Masters Games Baseball Committee Two committees will be responsible for planning the baseball competition. The Planning Committee will be responsible for establishing the format and venues for the baseball event and

6 the Tournament Committee will consist of volunteers who will be available for the daily schedule of baseball games. Planning Committee Set Age Divisions Establish Playing Dates Secure Playing Venues Publish Playing Rules Formulate a Tournament Budget Integrate a Medical Plan as part of Games overall medical plan Communicate Tournament Information Set up Volunteer committees for the daily schedule of games Technical Director Dan Taylor (604) amgbaseball2016@gmail.com Dan has submitted a photo and background article to the Americas Masters Games Committee. He will be available for the entire tournament so will need to be accredited as a Games official or director. Baseball Ambassador Gary Pennington (604) gazpen@gmail.com Gary s background information has been submitted along with this document. Gary will be turning 80 years of age in March, 2016 and he will be playing with the Vancouver Pirates 55+ team in the Americas Masters Games. When he is not playing, Gary will be available before the Games and during the actual competition. He is also using his extensive connections in the baseball world in Canada and the United States to invite teams to our event. He will be registering as a player but he will need to be accredited as a Games official (ambassador). AMG Baseball Tournament Director of Officials George Smith (778) gss112@shaw.ca George will be serving as Umpire-in-Chief and will need to be accredited as a Games official. He is responsible for securing and scheduling umpires and he will be at Hillcrest Park daily in that capacity. Parks Liason Bill Robinson (604) vcrobinson@telus.net Bill is President of Vancouver Community Baseball and his minor baseball organization uses the two diamonds involved in the Americas Masters Games Hillcrest Park and Trafalgar Park. Bill may be playing in the tournament but he will be available for the entire tournament and he is allowing us access to their equipment and storage facilities. He will also need to be accredited as a tournament official. Park Supervisors At the present time, two volunteers will be serving as Park Supervisors they will be present at one of the venues for entire days and they will not be playing in the tournament. They will be Official tournament contacts for teams and they will deal with any issues that arise during the games. They will coordinate scorekeepers, field maintenance, and work with umpires. We are hoping to add a third supervisor but we have not yet established. They will need to be accredited as tournament officials. Klaus Heck (604) kheck@shaw.ca

7 Warren Karsgaard (604) Tournament Committee The members of the Planning Committee will be establishing a Tournament Committee to assist in the daily tasks required during the actual tournament. At this time, we plan to ask volunteers to be available for two games (5/6 hours) thereby making them eligible for having the AMG Committee provide some support. A full list of names will be published closer to the actual playing dates Americas Masters Games Baseball Website The 2016 AMG Baseball Planning Committee has set up a baseball specific website to facilitate communications amongst volunteers, registrants, teams, and organizations we have contacted. While most of the information will probably appear on the 2016 Americas Masters Games site (BASEBALL), it will be used primarily as a complementary site. Webmaster Dan Taylor (604) amgbaseball2016@gmail.com