The young and young-at-heart will meet on the diamond this weekend for a rookie minor tournament celebrating the resiliency of the Victoria National Little League.

The Doug Hudlin Charitable Society will host the tournament May 6 and 7 at VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Jerry Hale Field, for District 7 rookie minor teams from Greater Victoria.

It will also be an opportunity to celebrate the National Little LeagueB次元官网网址檚 70th anniversary.

B次元官网网址淪eventy years is kind of a milestone,B次元官网网址� said Don Moore, the vice-president of the Doug Hudlin Charitable Society. B次元官网网址淲e were the first little league, not only in Victoria, but on the Island.B次元官网网址�

In celebration of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 anniversary, 10 players from the inaugural game May 12, 1953 will also be present.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e lucky to have contacted 10 alumni members, who played here the very first year,B次元官网网址� Moore said. B次元官网网址淪o on Sunday, weB次元官网网址檙e going to have those fine gentleman and honour them.B次元官网网址�

The alumni players from 70 years ago will also be awarding the rookie minor teams with medals at the end of the tournament.

This weekend National is proud to host the inaugural Doug Hudlin Charitable Society 7/8 Tournament! The tournament will host 5 Rookie Minor teams from District 7.

For full schedule, bracket, and rules please see

B次元官网网址� Victoria National Little League (@VicNationalLL)

Bob Holness, who was 10 years old when he first played ball for the Victoria National Little League in 1953, said he is most looking forward to seeing his teammates from so many years ago. He is also looking forward to the connections he knows baseball can create at a young age.

B次元官网网址淚t is really for the kids,B次元官网网址� Holness said. B次元官网网址淚t gets them together and I think it is just great. I think it is great that it is still going, because ball is going down here.B次元官网网址�

Of the 12 little leagues that were in Victoria, Moore said only six remain, so this tournament is an opportunity to build community among the teams.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e kind of the little park that could,B次元官网网址� Moore said.

The Doug Hudlin Charitable Society is named in honour Hudlin, who was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.

His niece, Barbara Hudlin, who sits on the board of the society, said her uncle worked to make baseball more inclusive and the society continues his work to this day.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in a lower income bracket for many parents, so that is something my charity does B次元官网网址� if they canB次元官网网址檛 afford to play, they can come to the charity and I donB次元官网网址檛 ask any questions we just say, B次元官网网址榊eah, weB次元官网网址檒l pay.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

READ MORE:

The rookie minor tournament is slated to be an annual event, playing out of various parks in Greater Victoria in years to come.

For more information on the tournament visit:.