Toronto-Playground, Leaside and Toronto-Greenwood, three organizations that have historically helped shape the long-standing rep tournament, are nowhere to be found on this year's schedule. However, organizers still managed to reel in a strong field of local squads this year.
"Where we have struggled in the past to get 10 Toronto teams, this year we got 13," said longtime organizer and retired Jarvis Collegiate gym teacher Marvin Pearl. "Programs have diminished in the core of the city whereas, in the suburbs, where I guess there are more families with more kids playing baseball, the numbers have flourished."
The tournament's mainstay associations have declined in membership to the point they don't have any rep teams at the 12- and 13-year-old age group anymore, Pearl said.
"It's not a new trend. It's been happening for 10 or 15 years... when we started this Toronto teams dominated."
The 52nd annual Lions-CNE PeeWee Baseball Tournament - which takes in a double-knockout Ontario-New York all-star peewee series and the Bulova Women's fastball tournament - runs Aug. 15 to 28. The last time a Toronto team won the championship at the 32-team peewee tournament was in 2002 when Scarborough's Agincourt took the title. Prior to that, York Baseball won one in 1991 and East York in '84.
Hardware, as always, will be presented to the champs for each of the tournaments.
A newly named award called the Jim Warden Announcer's Award, in memory of Jim Warden, will be presented to the most valuable player after each game in the all-star tournament. Additionally, the MVP of the championship final will receive the Tom and Pat Lawson Award.
The following Toronto baseball associations are sending teams into the peewee tournament: Etobicoke, West Toronto, North York, Royal York, Rexdale, Scarborough, Birchmount, North Toronto, Martingrove, Bloordale, East York and York.
Scheduling isn't quite finalized for the Aug. 16 and 17 peewee all-star tournament, but Eastern Ontario Baseball Association, Hamilton District Baseball Association, Toronto Baseball Association and Lackawanna B.O.Y.S Baseball Association will all field representation. A late entry is expected to round out that draw this year.
The women's fast pitch tournament, which will include squads from Ajax, Brantford, Ancaster, Oakville, Whitby, Pickering, Brampton, and Rochester, N.Y., runs Aug. 20 to 24.
Games take place at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) Ball Park, located just west of the Dufferin Gates. Visit www.theex.com for more information.