You know how you can tell youth are having fun playing a sport? They leave wondering when the next time will be.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what Angela Carter, the vice-president of Hay River Minor Ball, said about this past weekendSA国际影视传媒檚 U12 jamboree at Keith Broadhead Memorial Park. More than a dozen young players from Hay River were joined by 10 from Yellowknife for two days of skill development and tournament-style games.

Carter said it went about as well as it could have with just one tiny issue that was out of her control.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith the exception of the heat, I canSA国际影视传媒檛 complain,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e had plenty of comments from the kids about how much fun they had and it went off without a hitch.SA国际影视传媒�

The opening night on June 25 featured everyone getting together for a barbecue before the heavy work began the following morning with the skills. Volunteers manned the various stations, which included pitching, fielding and catching fly balls among them. Once that was complete, it was off to play some games with every player divided up into one of two teams.

SA国际影视传媒淎ge-wise, skill-wise, gender-wise, community-wise, it was all even, right down the middle,SA国际影视传媒� said Carter. SA国际影视传媒淲e played the games for fun and we told the kids they were all close games.SA国际影视传媒�

Scores were being kept as there was a run limit per inning but the players werenSA国际影视传媒檛 told who was winning or losing, she added.

For some of the players, this was the first time they got to experience pitching. To help keep the game flowing, there were no walks and if any player worked the count to four balls, the coaches stepped in.

Jenn Lukas, one of the coaches who made the trip in from Yellowknife, said there were some players who showed some interest in pitching and some of them were brand new to the position.

SA国际影视传媒淚f anyone got to four balls, the coaches would step and pitch to the batter,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

This was the first jamboree in Hay River for this age group and Carter said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 planning on having it again next year, if it can be done.

SA国际影视传媒淚n a small town like this, you sometimes donSA国际影视传媒檛 get enough people to play games,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he kids left asking when we would be playing again and we even got some extra registrations for minor ball so thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a big bonus.SA国际影视传媒�