Seven Barnstormers taking part in CBL All-Star game

CBL

The Canadian Baseball League (CBL) All-Star Weekend kicks off this Saturday in Chatham.

The Chatham-Kent Barnstormers will host the event at Fergie Jenkins Field, featuring a skills competition and home run derby on Saturday and an all-star game on Sunday.

“We are so honoured for the very first CBL All-Star Weekend in Chatham. We proved to the league that we can present a great performance here on and off the field, with entertainment and the loudness of our fans,” said Barnstormers manager and co-owner Dom Dinelle.

The Barnstormers will have seven representatives playing in the game; outfielder Austin Gurney and third baseman Yushin Ohta are in the South starting lineup.

Infielders Greyson Barrett, Owen Constantineau, Evan Morrison, Thomas Green and starting pitcher Yuri O’Connor-Yokoyama are on the South roster as reserves.

Outside of the ballpark, the celebration will extend into Tweedsmuir Avenue, which will be closed to traffic all weekend, transforming the street into a family-friendly festival zone filled with activities, food, and entertainment.

“A lot of people are expecting to come party with us, whether it’s in the street or in the ballpark. It’ll be fun for sure,” said Dinelle. “The gates are always open an hour and a half before, so people can see the warmups, they can see the guys prepping and probably mingle with the [players] as well.”

The event begins on Saturday at noon and runs until 9:30 p.m., with fireworks to follow at 9:45 p.m. On Sunday, activities run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., which includes the All-Star Game, featuring the best of the North vs. the South, as voted on by a combination of fans and media.