League showcases top talent as local franchise hosts annual event
The North Central Alberta Baseball League (NCABL) will stage its annual all‑star game at Legion Memorial Ball Park (215 Sturgeon Road) in St. Albert on Sunday, July 19, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.. The event is organised jointly by the NCABL and the St. Albert Cardinals.
League commissioner Paul Riopel said the all‑star contest is intended both to celebrate the league's best players and to help restore interest that declined during the COVID‑19 period. The NCABL currently fields six Senior AA teams; historically the league has been larger.
“A lot of us like to associate (the COVID pandemic) with a downturn, and…that's definitely what we have noticed. We lost, around that time, several franchises,”
Riopel said the NCABL averaged about eight teams for much of its 59‑year history and at times reached as many as 12 teams. The organisation also points out it was the only Alberta league to continue operating through the pandemic, a distinction the commissioner says has both helped continuity and underscored the challenges of recruiting new players and rebuilding local interest.
- Event: NCABL all‑star game
- When: Sunday, July 19 at 7:05 p.m.
- Where: Legion Memorial Ball Park, 215 Sturgeon Road, St. Albert
The St. Albert Cardinals will have at least two representatives on the all‑star roster: second baseman Zach Pollard and outfielder Robert Sullivan. Additional Cardinals may be added when team managers fill remaining roster spots.
Local implications and wider league context
For St. Albert, hosting the game offers a chance to draw fans to Legion Memorial Ball Park and showcase the city's long association with baseball. Riopel said part of the league's aim is not only to attract spectators but also to encourage former collegiate and younger players to return to summer league competition, noting a decline among players aged roughly 20 to 25.
Organisers are framing the all‑star game as both celebration and recruitment. The event gives current players exposure to scouts, supporters and prospective recruits while providing a single‑evening demonstration of the level of play across the NCABL's teams.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Current NCABL teams | 6 |
| League history (typical size) | ~8 teams (historically) |
| Peak size | 12 teams (at times) |
Residents planning to attend should note the first pitch time and location. The game represents one of the NCABL's season highlights and offers a community occasion for family‑friendly sport and local engagement as the league works to rebuild numbers lost during the pandemic period.
