Five Lake Babine Nation (LBN) youth are currently in Toronto competing at the North American Indigenous Games.
The event is the largest continental sporting and cultural gathering of aboriginal people, welcoming more than 5000 athletes that will compete in a variety of traditional and non-traditional sports.
The LBN youth include four baseball players - Dawson Perry, Brady Perry, Craig Patrick Jr. and Gavin Michell - and one basketball player - Geralin Tom.
“The tryout process was not easy; youth from across Canada and the United States have been trying out for the past several months to earn the right to play,” said constable Deborah Goble with the Burns Lake RCMP. “In support of this huge achievement, the RCMP challenged the [LBN] Bandits baseball team to a friendly game of fastball.”
Goble said the crowd was treated to a great game on July 6, 2017.
“Given the incredibly hot day, LBN councillor Derek MacDonald cooled everyone off with water balloons and a water gun, and the concession sold popsicles and other treats to raise funds for the youth,” she said.
The RCMP team took an early lead of 5-4, but the last inning was a nail-biter. Craig Patrick Jr. stepped up to the plate and hit the ball over the fence, allowing the Bandits to score two runs and win the game by 6-5.
Goble says the RCMP team has “demanded a rematch.”
