More than 80 of Niagara best and brightest young athletes will be descending on London this weekend to compete in the Ontario Summer Games and they were given a rousing sendoff Wednesday at Oakes Park in Niagara Falls.

For many of the more than 3,500 participants from across Ontario, competing at the Games will be the pinnacle of their sporting careers. For others, the 27th edition of the multi-sport event represents the first significant stepping stone on their way to maybe one day representing Canada at the Pan Am Games or even the Olympics. Three-time Olympian Mike Strange got his start at the Ontario Games.

“This is a great opportunity for the boys to play in this event because who knows where baseball can take you. A lot of kids aspire to play at the post secondary university or college level and this is a great chance for them to be showcased in these Games,” baseball head coach Steve Wiersma said. “It’s exposure and it is getting to play against some of the top athletes in Ontario. They can see where they fit in and see where they can go.”

Playing baseball for Niagara at the Ontario Summer Games allows local players to get on the radar for Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games.

“We play under the Ontario Baseball Association, which is OBA, and Team Ontario has coaches high up in the OBA,” Wiersma said.

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