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2024 U15 BOY'S
CANADIAN FAST PITCH CHAMPIONSHIP
St-Leonard-d'Aston, Que. - August 14 – 18

HISTORY

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EVENT DESCRIPTION

 

The U15 Boy’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship, which will take place from August 14 to August 18 in Saint-Léonard-d’Aston, Quebec, is a major event reuniting approximately twelve teams from the Atlantic provinces to British Columbia. The best U15 Canadian teams will try to win the highest honours. For fast pitch fans, this event represents a unique opportunity to see the best hopes in action and to encourage the “Express,” Saint-Léonard-d’Aston’s local team.

Ever since fast pitch has been practised in Saint-Léonard-d’Aston, several players have achieved tremendous feats and the municipality’s teams have always represented their town with pride and honour. This sport is particularly appreciated by fans who always make it a point of honour to fill the stands and encourage the players.

Thus, it is in Saint-Léonard-d’Aston, Quebec’s fast pitch capital, that the best U15 team in Canada in 2024 will be crowned. Don’t miss this event!

 A BIT OF HISTORY

Saint-Léonard-d’Aston and the surrounding area: the fast pitch Mecca

  • * The good old days: the Saint-Léonard-d’Aston Champlains, the Saint-Léonard-d’Aston Sunoco, the Saint-Léonard-d’Aston Reds, the Saint-Célestin Rockets, the Saint-Léonard-d’Aston Grizzlys.

 More recently, the Saint-Léonard-d’Aston Express organization has brought teams and players to national and even international levels.

  • * Saint-Léonard-d’Aston Express (the host organization):
    • - Participation in 9 Eastern Canadian Championships and 12 Canadian Championships;
    • - Bronze medallist at the 1999 Eastern Canadian Championship;
    • - Silver medallist at the 2000 Eastern Canadian Championship;
    • - Bronze medallist at the 2006 Canadian Championship;
    • - Bronze medallist at the 2011 Eastern Canadian Championship;
    • - Gold medallist at the 2013 U18 Canadian Championship;
    • - Gold medallist at the 2016 U21 Canadian Championship.
  • * Saint-Léonard-d’Aston:
    • - Host of the 1999 Minor Provincial Championship;
    • - Host of the 2000 U14 Eastern Canadian Championship;
    • - Host of the 2006 Junior Canadian Championship;
    • - Host of the 2010 U14 and U16 Men’s Eastern Canadian Championship;
    • - Host of the 2013 U18 Canadian Championship;
    • - Host of the 2018 U23 Championship;
    • - Training site of the Quebec men’s fast pitch team for the 1989, 1993, 2001, 2017 and 2022 Canada Games;
    • - Training camp site for the 2017 junior men’s national team;
    • - Training camp site for the 2004 French junior men’s national team;
    • - Since 1990, training site for the Centre-du-Québec women’s fast pitch team that competes in the Quebec Games (silver medallist in 2000);
    • - Pitching training session with national team pitching coach Doug Neil in 2004;
    • - Batting training session with national team batting coach Kelly McGiffin in 2005;
    • - Pitching training session with national team pitching coach Doug Neil in 2006;
    • - Batting training session with senior national team head coach Mark Smith in 2006;
    • - Batting and pitching training session with senior national team head coach Don Bates in 2010;
    • - Batting training session with senior national team assistant coach Dave Paetkau in 2011;
    • - Pitching training session with Darren Zack in 2012, who at one time was considered the world’s best fast pitch pitcher;
    • - Pitching training session with Bill Hillhouse in 2013;
    • - Batting training session with senior national team assistant coach Dave Paetkau in 2014;
    • - Pitching training sessions with Mark Quinn from 2018 to 2024.
  • * Many players from the area, both males and females, distinguished themselves in national and international competitions:
    •    - Claudette Bergeron – senior women’s national team (from 1983 to 1988), gold medallist in 1983 and bronze medallist in 1987 at the Pan-American Games, participation in the World Championship (1986);
    • - Claude Bernier, Steve Garceau and Richard Jutras – silver medallists at the 1989 Canada Games;
    • - Jean-Daniel Doucet and Francis Leclair – gold medallists with the Fastball Portneuf team at the first U15 Canadian Championship in 2000 at Scarborough, Ontario;
    • - Mathieu Lessard – junior men’s national team (bronze medallist at the 2005 World Championship);
    • - Frédéric Carignan, Jessy Caya, Jean-Daniel Doucet, Olivier Forest, Francis Leclair, Mathieu Lessard, Philippe Parr and Julien Richard (coaches: Jean-Yves Doucet, Michel Leclair and Jacques Lemire) – bronze medallists at the 2006 U23 Canadian Championship in Saint-Léonard-d’Aston;
    • - Julien Richard and Francis Leclair – participation in the 2008 European Cup;
    • - Jean-Daniel Doucet, Mathieu Lessard, Julien Richard and Francis Leclair – bronze medallists at the 2009 ISC II Tournament of Champions in Illinois, USA;
    • - Jean-Daniel Doucet, Mathieu Lessard and Francis Leclair – bronze medallists at the Senior Canadian Championship in Owen Sound, Ontario;
    • - Samuel Desmarais, Francis Bergeron, Tommy Boisvert, Joey McDonald, François-Charles René, Bobby Verville and Marc-André Villeneuve (coaches: Jean-Yves Doucet, Michel Leclair, Michel Villeneuve and Yves René) – gold medallists at the 2013 U19 Canadian Championship in Saint-Léonard-d’Aston;
    • - Marc-André Villeneuve, Samuel Desmarais and François-Charles René – members of the 2014 junior national team, participation in the World Championship in Whitehorse, Yukon;
    • - Isaac Lefebvre – member of the junior national team, bronze medallist at the 2016 World Junior Championship in Midland, USA;
    • - Tommy Boisvert, Samuel Desmarais, Marc-Antoine Demers, Gabriel Désilets, Guillaume Fournier, Isaac Lefebvre, Brandon Lemay, Joey McDonald and Marc-André Villeneuve (coaches: Jean-Yves Doucet and Michel Leclair) – gold medallists at the 2016 U23 Canadian Championship in Tavistock, Ontario;
    • - Tommy Boisvert, Marc-Antoine Demers, Gabriel Désilets, Guillaume Fournier, Isaac Lefebvre, Brandon Lemay and William Richard (coaches: Jean-Yves Doucet and Michel Leclair) – bronze medallists at the 2017 Canada Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba;
    • - Isaac Lefebvre – member of the junior national team, participation in the 2018 World Junior Championship in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan;
    • - Isaac Lefebvre – member of the U23 national team, participation in the 2023 U23 World Championship in Argentina;
    • - Xavier Daneau, member of the junior national team, participation in the 2020 World Junior Championship in New Zealand;
    • - Mika Houle, member of the junior national team, participation in the 2023 World Junior Championship in Mexico (bronze medallist);
    • - Jean-Yves Doucet, assistant coach with the 2014-2023 junior national team, bronze medallist in 2016 at Midland, USA and in 2023 at Hermosillo, Mexico.

 REVIEW OF THE 2000, 2006, 2010, 2013 AND 2018 CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Saint-Léonard-d’Aston hosted the U14 Men’s Eastern Canadian Championship in 2000, the Junior Men’s Canadian Championship in 2006, the U14 and U16 Men’s Eastern Canadian Championship in 2010, the U18 Canadian Championship in 2013 and the U23 Canadian Championship in 2018. These events were a complete success, and many fans attended from start to finish. With this experience, Saint-Léonard-d’Aston is now recognized for its expertise in organizing national championships.

A few highlights:

  • * For these events, more than 125 volunteers from the community mobilized to help the organizing committee;
  • * Throughout the events, bilingual people were assigned to each and every game involving English-speaking teams to facilitate communication;
  • * All services (lodging, transportation, meals, first aid, etc.) were provided to participating teams and their supporters;
  • * The stands were at full capacity for all evening games and many fans drove to Saint-Léonard-d’Aston to attend;
  • * Local sponsors responded overwhelmingly to the call and helped make the events profitable;
  • * The media in the region provided full coverage (before, during and after the events) and an exposure much appreciated by sponsors;
  • * Following these championships, fast pitch has become much more popular, more specifically among youth (from 5 to 12 years old);
  • * The experience gained by local players during these championships allowed several of them to participate in high-level competitions and accomplish numerous achievements: Saint-Léonard-d’Aston’s Francis Leclair was twice named the best pitcher in Canada and was selected to four all-star teams in a Canadian championship; Mathieu Lessard, Marc-André Villeneuve, François-Charles René, Samuel Desmarais, Isaac Lefebvre, Xavier Daneau and Mika Houle were all named to the junior national team.

 ORGANIZING A CANADIAN FAST PITCH CHAMPIONSHIP IS ALSO…

  • * An opportunity for the local people to get involved in the development of Saint-Léonard-d’Aston and therefore increase the sense of belonging to the community;
  • * The opportunity to attract tourists and get people to know our municipality;
  • * The opportunity to improve and establish safe and multi-purpose sporting facilities;
  • * The opportunity to promote the benefits and advantages of physical activities;
  • * A way to develop sports and encourage young people to practise more physical activities and adopt a healthy lifestyle;
  • * Major economic benefits for merchants of the municipality and region;
  • * A source of financing for the organization of the Express of Saint-Léonard-d’Aston which, with the funds collected, will be able to offer quality services and meet the needs and fulfill the aspirations of the municipality’s fast pitch players;
  • * A way to maintain the tradition of excellence for which Saint-Léonard-d’Aston is known in the development of fast pitch players;
  • * A golden opportunity for young people to demonstrate their skills while representing their province in a high-level competition;
  • * The opportunity to promote cultural exchanges between people of different Canadian provinces;
  • * For municipal councillors, a time to support and recognize the initiatives of community volunteers.

 

In a few words, organizing the 2024 U15 Boy’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship is the opportunity for the municipality of Saint-Léonard-d’Aston to demonstrate its vitality and the dedication of its citizens.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Organizing such an event will provide numerous economic benefits on a local as well as regional level. Considering the organizing and functioning expenses and the money spent by visitors (players, supporters, spectators), the organizing committee expects that the event will generate more than $200,000.

This estimate includes benefits related to the following:

  • * Lodging;
  • * Catering;
  • * Transportation (buses, vehicle rentals);
  • * Local merchants (convenience stores, service stations, grocery stores, shopping centres, sport shops, etc.);
  • * Tourism

In conclusion, the numerous benefits resulting from organizing the 2024 U15 Boy’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championship are more than interesting at the local, regional, and provincial scales.

 

 

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