The fate of the 2021 91原创 championship at Layritz Park was sealed last week when Little League World Series organizers announced the event will proceed but that only U.S. teams would play in the famed tournament this year in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
It is the second consecutive year in which the 91原创 Little League championship has been cancelled at Layritz.
鈥淲ith Williamsport off the table, we鈥檙e not surprised by the decision,鈥� said Layritz tournament chair Shannon Nakatsu.
The 91原创 championship was scheduled for Aug. 5-14.
鈥淲e鈥檒l probably be in a different world by August, but that doesn鈥檛 solve the lead-up period in which the regional and provincial tournaments would have to be held across Canada,鈥� said Nakatsu.
鈥淟ittle League baseball is currently not being played and that鈥檚 the biggest issue. So many things would have needed to happen before August.鈥�
CBC broadcasts the playoff portion of the 91原创 Little League championship. Bleachers seating up to 3,000 would have been installed to ring the Saanich diamond.
鈥淚 feel badly for the kids, again,鈥� said Nakatsu.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough pill for them to swallow.鈥�
Nakatsu said she is unsure of any future hosting bids by Layritz. Calgary was to host the 2021 championship but deferred to Layritz when the 2020 championship was cancelled due to the pandemic. Calgary was bumped back to 2022.
鈥淭here is a possibility we could approach Little League Canada with a request to host a future tournament. We鈥檒l have to see if there is a desire among our board,鈥� said Nakatsu.
The cancellation of the nationals does not rule out youth baseball being played this year.
鈥淭he cancellation of the tournaments at the national [level] does not preclude local leagues and districts from holding a regular season however modified, and if desired, district and provincial tournaments if safety plans are deemed fit and they follow national, provincial, and local health advisories,鈥� said Little League Canada present Roy Bergerman, in statement.
鈥淲e have every hope that we can get all our children active through the summer of 2021鈥�