After years of planning, waiting, and adapting, Layritz Little League is finally ready to take centre stage -- just 100 days away.
From July 29 to Aug. 7, Saanich's Layritz Park will host the 2025 Canadian Little League Championship, welcoming seven teams of 11- and 12-year-olds from across the country for a chance to represent Canada at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.
For Brittney Crump, chair of the tournament and a lifelong Layritz Park user, the countdown has been a long time coming.
“We are all very excited at Layritz Little League,” Crump said. “The excitement is building even beyond Layritz – the rest of the community is really starting to pay attention and get on board for this tournament.”
The road to 2025 has been anything but straightforward.
Layritz was originally scheduled to host the national championship in 2020 and again in 2021, but both events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They rebid in 2022 and were finally awarded the 2025 tournament.
“That planning has been coming for a long time,” Crump said. “We’re just really excited to finally be hitting 2025 and roll out all the planning we’ve been doing for years.”
Much of the original logistics – accommodations, transportation, scheduling – have had to be reworked due to a new economic reality and a completely new organizing committee.
Crump, who now chairs the 12-person planning team alongside Layritz Little League president Graham Plumb, said the core of the work is in place, with the group now focused on final details.
“We’ve tackled all the big pieces and now we’re just looking into the little ones – different events for the kids during the week, opening and closing ceremonies, meals, all that kind of stuff,” she said.
In total, 25 games will be played over the 10-day tournament, all held on the main diamond at Layritz Park. The host team will open their campaign on Wednesday, July 30, at 2 p.m. against the representative from the Prairie region.
Teams earn their way to the championship by advancing through local, district, and provincial tournaments. As the host, Layritz receives an automatic berth – an invaluable opportunity for local players and families to experience the event on home soil.
While Crump wasn’t part of the original bid, her ties to the park run deep. She grew up playing softball at Layritz and now watches her son play in the same community. That personal connection is part of what motivated her to get involved.
“I love the park. I love the community feel that the park has. It really does feel like a baseball family when you’re there,” Crump said. “What a cool opportunity for the community to come together.”
It’s also a rare one. Victoria hasn’t hosted the Canadian championship since 1991.
“This is not an event that comes around very often,” Crump said. “It’s kind of once in every 30-40 years – something that people will remember for a long time.”
Crump and the committee is still looking for financial support and volunteers to help bring the event together. The group is about $50,000 short of its fundraising target and is seeking local businesses and restaurants to contribute, whether through sponsorship or in-kind donations.
“We’re also going to be getting out our call for volunteers soon,” Crump added. “We’ll need help with the concession, parking, and our welcome table.”
Those interested in supporting the tournament can contact Crump directly at media@layritz.ca.
For the players, coaches, and fans, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The winner will earn the right to wear the Team Canada jersey and represent the nation at one of the most iconic events in youth sports.
“It’s a very once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at this age,” Crump said. “They’re still just little kids who love the game – but getting to wear ‘Canada’ across your chest? That’s something special.”
The winning team will leave the day after the conclusion of the national championship and head south to Pennsylvania, where they will get the chance to don the Canadian maple leaf.
