Announcement
The Nova Scotia and New Brunswick senior baseball leagues have decided not to proceed with interleague play this season.
Having lost the interleague games scheduled for Nova Scotia last weekend because of rain, it was the intent of both leagues to make up as many games as possible this coming weekend. But the logistical hurdles of booking field times at venues that are being used by more than one organization proved too difficult to overcome.
"Several of our teams share their facilities with minor ball, junior and intermediate programs, and those groups have also been affected by the recent inclement weather," Nova Scotia senior league president/CAO Jody Jewers said. "So everyone is scrambling to reschedule games in addition to those that were booked at the start of the season. Tournaments are also booked on some of these fields on weekends, which cuts dramatically into the ability to reschedule weekend games."
In looking at both leagues' schedules for the remainder of the season, there wasn't enough of a window of opportunity to reschedule any more games in the event of rain. Both leagues require some of their members to play games against some teams exclusively on weekends, and in the event of rain on the July 11-12 weekend, when Nova Scotia teams were scheduled to visit New Brunswick, there was no backup date available that would be feasible for all clubs.
"The Sydney Sooners play exclusively on weekends, and several of the New Brunswick teams are also tied in to playing on weekends," Jewers added. "Both leagues have to make the completion of their schedules the top priority, and though interleague play remains a solid concept which we will continue to look at in future seasons, the one variable we can't control is the weather."
New Brunswick senior league president John Collins says it is unfortunate and disappointing for teams and fans of both leagues to have to put the project on the shelf for this season but understands it is necessary with the short ball season that is available.
"The lack of make-up dates has closed the window of opportunity for both leagues to be able to showcase the top level of ball to fans in both provinces," he said. "Hopefully next season interleague play will be able to resume."
"I know that our league enjoys the interlocking schedule and both leagues looked forward to playing each other."
Both leagues will be sending two teams to the Canadian senior baseball championship Aug. 20-23 in Dartmouth and Halifax.
Interleague play began in 2006. Seventy-four games have been played, with the series even at 37-37.
