This spring, visitors to Southside Park may notice activity around the baseball diamonds as crews begin installing new digital scoreboards.  This exciting development reflects the power of community support for youth sport in Woodstock.  As someone who grew up playing baseball in Woodstock, seeing our community come together to invest in the next generation of players is incredibly meaningful to me. Moments like this show what can happen when people care deeply about youth sport and the opportunities it creates for young people.

The project, which will see three new scoreboards installed at Southside Park, was expedited through the generosity of Woodstock locals David & Barb Beatty, who were inspired after attending the 13U National Baseball Championship the past two years to watch their god-daughter’s sons play. Seeing firsthand the energy surrounding the tournament, with our local players competing and families cheering, they recognized the positive impact youth baseball continues to have in our community and chose to help strengthen the facilities that support it.  The new scoreboards are more than an upgrade, they are a symbol of what can be achieved when volunteers, community partners, local government, and generous community members work together to build something lasting.

Two of the new scoreboards will be installed at the Southside East and Southside West diamonds, which serve as the home of the annual 13U National Championship. Although the championship inspired this investment, the benefits of the new scoreboards will be felt throughout the entire baseball community. These diamonds host a wide range of WMBA baseball and fastball activity each year, including games for the Woodstock Wranglers rep teams, Nationals Girls Fastball, and our House League year-end tournament. We also host regional and provincial tournaments throughout the summer on these fields. For many local players, these fields represent the opportunity to compete on some of the finest baseball diamonds in Canada.

A third scoreboard will be installed at Tip O’Neill Sportsfield, Woodstock’s full-size diamond used by our older age groups, including WMBA players from age 14 up to our newly formed 22U team. Installation will begin this spring, with the project expected to be completed during the 2026 season. This improvement is the capstone to one of the best fields in Ontario, which supports the continued growth of baseball in Woodstock for older players, including adults.  This spring, the field will welcome a Blue Jays Academy Clinic and the “Road to Okotoks” weekend qualifier tournament that gives teams the opportunity to compete for the Morneau Cup in Alberta in August.

Whenever improvements are made at a particular facility, it is natural for people to ask about the many other diamonds across the city where young athletes also play. Those questions reflect the strong sense of pride our community has in youth sports. Southside Park serves as Woodstock’s premier baseball venue and the natural home for major tournaments and showcase events. Investments there have helped ensure our city can continue hosting events that bring visitors, economic activity, and national recognition to Woodstock.  The generosity that made this project possible also gives our association the ability to accelerate improvements at other local diamonds, ensuring that investments in baseball benefit players across the entire program.  Projects like this are possible because of the strong partnership between the Woodstock Minor Ball Association and the City of Woodstock, which continues to be an incredible partner in supporting youth sport and helping deliver improvements to community facilities.

By 2031, Woodstock will have hosted the 13U National Championship for nine consecutive years — an accomplishment made possible through the dedication of volunteers, the support of local sponsors, and the strong partnership between the Woodstock Minor Ball Association and the City of Woodstock.  The Championship itself takes place over just six days each summer, but its impact on Woodstock is considerable. Each year the event brings teams and families from across Canada to our city, generating meaningful economic activity for local businesses and bringing hundreds of visiting athletes and families to Woodstock, while showcasing Woodstock as a welcoming destination for youth sport. Most importantly, it creates moments of pride for our community as young athletes from across the country compete alongside ours on our local fields. Our vision is long-term, with the intent to broadcast Woodstock to a national audience, supported by partners who want to be part of the exciting journey.

When people in Woodstock step forward to support youth sport, those contributions create a legacy that benefits young athletes and the entire community for generations. When the scoreboards light up the diamonds for the first time this season, thousands of young athletes will experience the results of that community spirit firsthand.  I encourage everyone to use that as a reminder that baseball in Woodstock has always been about far more than the game itself.