Some of the best baseball players in the province are coming to Maple Ridge this long weekend for the second annual Twin Cities Invitational tournament.
The Ridge Meadows Twins senior men’s baseball club is hosting the tournament, with games running from Friday to Monday at Larry Walker Field and Hammond Stadium.
All the games are free to attend, and there will a beer garden and barbecue area set up for the entire event.
"We don't have to compete with the Canucks this year, so we're hoping for a good turn out," said organizer Shane Kool.
The tournament features both local Lower Mainland Baseball Association teams – the Twins and the Maple Ridge Jerks – as well as the Ridge Meadows Royals junior men’s team.
The tournament also features some of the top men's teams in the province, with teams from Prince George, Gibsons, Howe Sound, Richmond, Langley, and Aldergrove.
Many of the players taking part are ex-NCAA and Canadian collegiate players.
"This is the only tournament of this size and this caliber in the province," said organizer Shayne Kool.
The feature event of the tournament will be the Saturday night home run derby, featuring ex-college and -professional sluggers, including 2006 New York Yankee draft pick David Van Ostrand.
The championship game is set for 3:15 p.m. on Monday at Larry Walker Field.
• For a complete schedule of events please visit www.ballcharts.com/rmtwins2010.