Junior Baseball League History
Regina Optimist Junior Baseball League History
The involvement of Regina Optimist Baseball association in Junior baseball began in the late 1980’s when Optimist Baseball sponsored a “Bison” aged team that participated in the Saskatchewan Junior Baseball League along with teams from Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Esterhazy and North Battleford. The team progressed to the Junior age division and in 1991 Optimist Baseball sponsored the Junior “Pioneers” and hosted the Provincial Junior Championships for the first time.
From 1992-94 the Optimist sponsored Pioneers participated in the Saskatchewan Junior League. In 1995 the league folded due to the excessive travel requirements and Optimist Baseball sponsored two Junior aged teams, one participated in the Regina Men’s Senior Baseball League and one played in the Qu’apelle Valley Baseball League. 1996 saw the Regina Men’s Baseball League disband and the formation of the Regina Optimist Junior Baseball League. In 1996 the Optimist Junior League consisted of two teams from Regina, and teams from Yorkton, Moose Jaw and Weyburn.
The Regina Optimist Junior Baseball League has continued to operate since 1996 and has had teams from centers including Moose Jaw, Weyburn, Southy, Raymore, Humboldt, Yorkton, Lumsden, Arm River and as many as three teams from Regina.
In 2012 the League featured eight teams, while in 2013 the League featured only four teams, three from Regina and the Arm River Indians. As a result the League teams participated in a fall season schedule with the Qu’appelle Valley Baseball League.
Since Regina Optimist Baseball began sponsoring junior teams and the Junior League we have hosted League Championships, tournaments, Provincial Junior Championships and Western Canada Junior playoffs. In 2015 and 2016 Regina Optimist Baseball hosted the Canadian Junior Championships.
2023 and beyond now represents new horizons and opportunities for Regina Optimist Baseball, and we look forward to continuing on with further and expanded endevours :)
