Well, there’s baseball, aka hardball, then there’s softball, either fastball or slowpitch, but whatever your game, you will find it here in Victoria! Regardless of your age, gender, or skill level, there’s a ball team that wants you to play with them. Baseball season in Victoria starts in early spring and runs well into fall, depending upon the league in which you play, and how serious it is.
There are a number of baseball associations in Greater Victoria, administering numerous leagues. The main contenders are:
The Greater Victoria Baseball Association – (GVBA) which provides direction and support for the BC Minor Baseball program in Greater Victoria as well as the BC Premier and Junior Premier Baseball Leagues. They also coordinate competitive recreational baseball for players over 17 years old.
Greater Victoria Slopitch Association – (GVSA) has operated in Victoria for more than thirty years, and offers competitive (A and B divisions) and recreational teams. The 6-4 Mixed Slopitch league is Slo Pitch National (SPN) Sanctioned, and in 2011 32 teams in 3 divisions. The GVSA is the largest mixed league in Victoria.
SVI Minor Fastpitch Softball – Coordinates Leagues throughout Greater Victoria, Southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
Little League Victoria – whose member leagues provide a wide variety of ball programs that include baseball, softball, T ball (baseball for tykes), Blastball (softball for tykes), and Challenger, modified baseball for kids with special needs.
The boys (and girls) of summer are happy to be living in Victoria, where we can play baseball, whether hardball, fastball or slowpitch, practically year round. BATTER UP!
