The first pitches have been thrown and the inaugural season for the LS Beasts has begun and I could not be happier for everyone involved from the players and the families to everyone who made this first season possible.

 

At the end of a very successful and fun fall ball season under Le Sandlot’s banner, parents approached me about starting summer teams and extending the Beasts program to a year-round operation. At first, I was reluctant, knowing the many challenges we would come to face in finding fields that would welcome our teams and how the introduction of a new option for summer play could result in some territorial squabbles and potentially negatively impact the retail business of Le Sandlot in its new location.

 

In the end, several parents and myself decided that the challenges ahead would be worth facing so that kids who love the game of baseball as much as we do, would be able to experience the game in a more holistic manner than what has become the norm in the Greater Montreal Region. We wanted to create an environment of fun, high-level competition, player development, camaraderie and professionalism without politics, territorial limitations or bureaucracy hindrances. The non-profit organization, LS Beasts Baseball Club was founded and we set out to make this vision a reality.

 

Our mission is to foster the love of the game and offer players for the Greater Montreal Region the ability to play competitive baseball and participate in a training program throughout the year led by professional coaches.

 

During the last 2 months since teams were formed, our professional coaching staff led players in practice at least twice a week while families, coaches and players organized fundraising efforts to reduce the costs for the families to be part of this program. Raffles, grocery bagging, bottle collections and securing corporate sponsorships resulted in raising over $30,000 for our teams. I want to congratulate everyone on this achievement.

 

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors for their support especially our Grand Slam Sponsors: Canfornav, DeGrandpre Chair, Fasken, Montreal Mavericks Flag Football And YULSmile.

 

I am very excited for our players who will be playing in tournaments that will put them against teams from Quebec, Ontario and around the U.S. at some of the nicest fields in North America.

 

I am especially excited for all of them to visit Cooperstown, home of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and play in the Cooperstown Backyard Classic.

 

As part of our summer experience, each team will be going to an MLB game as a group when they are travelling for tournaments in either Toronto or New York, which will surely be an unforgettable experience for them and their families.

 

I am committed to making this season memorable and enjoyable for all of our families and will not rest in our efforts to find fields closer to where we all live where we can practice, host games and call “home”. I would like to thank those municipalities that have given access to their fields. Our families and the players are very grateful.

To our players: Your coaches are there to support you and drive you to give it your all, in the end that's what you are asked to do: Be YOUR best, not THE best. Our coaches will make your BEST better with every practice and game. Keep learning, working hard, and having fun.

 

It is my honour to serve you all and I am looking forward to building a program where the game thrives and your love for the game continues to grow.

 

Play Ball!

 

Menashi Mashaal

President, LS BEASTS BASEBALL CLUB