In 61 years of Little League in Canada, no B.C. teams have garnered more championship titles than this small community in the Kootenays.
Since joining Little League in 1953, Trail has been a historical powerhouse garnering 12 Provincial Championships, 5 Canadian Championship titles and appearances as Team Canada at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.
Whalley, B.C. runs close behind with 10 provincial titles and 5 LLWS appearances.
It’s been 11 years since Trail last hosted the Provincial Major Little League Championships. From July 20 – 28th, 2012, 6 district champion teams will descend on the ‘Home of Champions’ to compete for the title and to represent B.C. at the 2012 Canadian Little League Championships.
Let’s take a look back….
Trail Little League: The Early Years
On April 11, 1953 Trail Little League held its first formation meeting with inaugural President Bart Pope and what was the beginning of a long baseball legacy in this small community that grew up along the banks of the Columbia River.
On May 20, four inaugural teams and respective managers walked in the Opening Day Parade downtown Trail.
First four managers: Andy Bilesky, Don Ireland, Rico Martin and Bus Algar.
First four teams: Canadian Legion, Gyro, Kinsmen and Rotary.
Master of Opening Day Ceremonies Ernie Gordon calling on David Caroll, a player on the Legion team, to sing “O Canada.”
In those early years of B.C. Little League, teams were grouped in the Western Region and competed with teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and Utah for a berth in the Little League World Series.
In 1953, only two years after the program came to the province, the Jaycee Nationals from Little Mountain won the Regional Championship and became the first BC team ever to advance to the Little League World Series.
Over the next decade, boys from B.C. made appearances in the Western Regional Tournament over the next decade- 1954 (New West), 1955 (Vancouver Moose), 1957 (New Westminster), and 1964 (Trail); however, Williamsport continued to elude our Little Leaguers.
In 1965 the format changed in Canada and B.C. began to compete with other Canadian Little Leagues for the Canadian Title and for a berth in the Little League World Series (LLWS) as Team Canada.
In front of an estimated 7,000 fans, the first all-Canadian champion was crowned. The title match between Trail, B.C. and Stoney Creek, Ontario saw Trail defeated 4-0. Stoney Creek went on to compete in the final of the LLWS – the only Canadian team to do so.
Two years later, in 1967, the Trail LL Boys of Summer made another run for the Canadian title – this time taking their first Canadian Championship and securing B.C’s second ever spot in the Little League World Series. Trail won the Canadian championship with a 5-0 triumph over Windsor, Ontario. Morley Levick hurled a one-hitter and struck out eight batters while Rick Babcock, R. Regnier and Larry Reid got Trail hits.
The 1967 team roster included: Chris Hughes, Keith Van DeKeere, Larry Reid, Vern McDougall, Bob Margoreeth, Wes Kenzie, Dovilio Binotto, Derek Haas, Bob Regnier, Mike Buna, Morley Levick, Rick Babcock, John Hamilton and Greg Peck.
B.C. teams proved to be strong contenders for the Canadian Title over the late 60’s to the 80’s – bringing home the national crown no less than seven times in that period.
Trail Little League teams were especially successful during those years, having won the Canadian Championship in 1976, 1980 and 1981. Former NHL player and now Vancouver area sports broadcaster and analyst, Ray Ferraro, played for Trail Little League when they travelled to Williamsport in 1976.
Trail’s last appearance at the LLWS came in 1990. That year, B.C. had its best finish ever, falling to Taiwan in the finals of the International pool. Taiwan went on to win the LLWS that year.
Jason Bay, future National League Rookie of the Year (2004), foreshadowed his future baseball success by playing for Trail in the 1990 LLWS.
But it was Kelly Craig who stole the show and put Trail Little L
eague on the map for a number of firsts during the 1990 season.
Kelly was the first female to hit a home run in the Provincial Championships (vs. Whalley, August 14/90 /Trail).
She was the first female to hit a home run in the Canadian Championships (against Edmonton, Aug 15/90 in Stoney Park, ON).
At the LLWS, Kelly was only the third female to ever play at the WS since the 1975 rule change allowing females to play in the LLWS.
First female to be a starting pitcher in a Championship game in the LLWS, (against Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Aug 21/90).
And in that same game – the first female to play the catcher’s position in a LLWS Championship game.
Trail Little League: The Early Years Photo Album
Please visit the B.C. Baseball Hall of Fame on Facebook to view photo album: www.facebook.com/bcbaseballhalloffame
As you click through the many photos – you will see many familiar names – you may not recognize their faces as they were 30 – 50 years ago. Many continued participating in baseball beyond the Little League years. Many went on to college baseball programs, the minor leagues or devoted their time coaching in their community.
Names that include:
Andy Bilesky, player with Trail Cardinals and 1939 West Kootenay Champions, who dedicated his life to amateur youth baseball in Trail.
Gary Picone, player with the National Team, coach with powerhouse NAIA Lewis-Clarke State University Warriors and now the Washington State University Cougars baseball program
Ken Umbarger, Trail Little Leaguer who later coached with the inaugural Kelowna Cubs of the BCPBL
Brian Pipes (1955) who went on to coach baseball and softball in the area for 45 years and was an administrator with Babe Ruth League
Jason Bay; future MLB’er
Barry McGillivray, former President B.C. Amateur Baseball Society and Member of Board of Directors Baseball Canada and current Associate Dean of the Okanagan School of Business
John Ircandia, the founding/managing partner of the Okotoks Dawgs program.
The B.C.B.H.F.M. would like to thank Sarah Benson, Director of the Trail Museum & Archives for archival photos and notes.
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