The leaders of the Puribec Baseball League met as part of the annual general meeting which recently took place in Rivière-du-Loup, to discuss the major issues of the circuit. With Industries Desjardins du Kamouraska as its champion team, a project to create a junior BB baseball league is in the league’s plans.
From the outset, the representatives of the eight teams unanimously gave a very positive assessment of the last season. With eight teams spread across Quebec and New Brunswick that can count on solid organizations, the League has reached a peak in terms of popularity and competitiveness.
Moreover, some speakers spoke of the Puribec League not only as the oldest senior baseball circuit in Quebec, but as the second most important league in the province due to its caliber of play.
Among the most important points on the agenda, the question of imported players returned to the table. For the next season, it was decided by the governors that all teams will be entitled to two imported players, according to the conditions established a few years ago which exclude professional players in particular. Other possibilities would be added for lower ranking teams.
“It’s practically the status quo, since last year, all teams could have fielded at least two imported players as the regulations allowed, except Témiscouata which was entitled to only one foreign player due to its three championships in four years under the same conditions,” declared Puribec League president Denis Bérubé, who did not have to vote regarding imported players.
It was not easy to reach common ground on all the issues during this meeting, and all the teams had to give in on certain points, but ultimately, most of the leaders did not want to reduce the caliber of play, while keeping the regional aspect.
“I agree very well with the decisions taken, because we are practically keeping the same recipe that was successful for our circuit in 2024,” he adds.
A junior BB baseball league?
The idea of setting up a junior BB baseball league which would involve teams from the Puribec circuit was also mentioned. Even though the project is in its infancy, leaders took the floor to explain the importance of developing young players in a regional setting. “The examples of Trois-Pistoles, Rimouski and Saint-Pascal, which played in a Quebec league, demonstrate all the benefits of junior teams which bridge the gap between midget and senior. It remains to be seen the feasibility of this project, which we want to implement from the 2025 season,” concludes Mr. Bérubé.
