Alberni Valley Minor Softball has reached a milestone this week, as the organization prepares to host the U19C provincial girls’ softball championship.
Once the tournament kicks off, the Alberni Valley will have hosted provincial championships in every age level of girls’ softball that Softball BC offers.
The organization has cultivated an enviable relationship with Softball BC, to the point that the Alberni Valley is considered a preferred venue to hold major tournaments. Volunteers with AV Minor Softball credit two things: a tireless corps of volunteers willing to step up and ensure a provincial championship is successful, no matter if they are dealing with torrential downpours, as they have in past years, or a forest fire that cast a smoky orange pall over the community, as they did last summer for a regional championship.
The other factor is the quality of sports facilities Port Alberni has to offer, especially at Echo Major and Minor fields.
Port Alberni’s playing fields and sports facilities are envied by other communities, who appreciate the time and attention that city staff and volunteers put into upkeep. This is something we should be proud of.
If there is one place where we fall down, it is in the dearth of accommodation options for teams. We have heard that some of the teams playing in this weekend’s BC championship have had to book rooms in Parksville, for example.
It’s something for us to think about — but for now, let’s cheer on the home team.
— ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS