The 28th Annual Lions Club World Senior Fastball Championships are mere days away, with organizers in Azilda putting the finishing touches on the event that has moved from North Bay to Greater Sudbury.
The tournament will kick off on Friday, Aug. 29 at the Rick McDonald Memorial Sports Complex, with the first game pitting Toronto against the Sudbury Relics at 7:15 p.m.
Prior to that, however, there will be a touch of pomp and ceremony. Joining the Lockerby Legion Colour Guard will be deputy mayor and longtime fastball player Ron Dupuis, Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle, honorary tournament chairperson Jim Kirkwood and tournament chair Ike McDonald.
Kirkwood was a member of the last local team to capture this tournament, the Sudbury Relics crew of 1999, which also included the likes of Eddie Roy, Pitou Paquette, Mickey Chartrand and the late Brad Rienguette.
Play at the 2014 tournament will continue right through the weekend, with finals slated for Sunday afternoon in Azilda.