Jane Glenn | 29 May 2026
Saugeen Shores could become the next host of a Canadian fastball championship after Tara Twins minor softball representative Ryan Greig asked council to support a bid for next year. Greig pitched the idea of hosting the U17 Softball Canada Men’s Championship at Port Elgin’s Lamont Park, arguing the event would bring national exposure, tourism dollars and lasting benefits to young athletes across Bruce and Grey counties.
Greig told council the region has a deep fastball tradition, pointing to the legacy of the Port Elgin Blue Devils and the continued strength of the sport in communities such as Tara, Owen Sound, Kincardine, Walkerton, and beyond. With many former players now coaching the next generation, he said the time is right to bring another national championship back to the area. “There’s a long history of fastball in this area,” Greig said, “we would like to bring a Canadian championship back to Bruce and Grey counties.”
A key part of that pitch is Lamont Sports Park, which Greig described as a “premier ball facility.” After playing there several times, he said local teams are “in awe of the park” and believe it “would be a great facility to host this tournament.” Greig said three diamonds would be needed for the tournament and that Lamont Park has the infrastructure needed for an event of this size and not take time away from any other local teams, like slow-pitch.
The economic boost that comes with a week-long national championship is significant and far-reaching. The event typically draws 10 to 16 teams from across Ontario and the rest of Canada, beginning with an opening ceremony on Tuesday and continuing through to the championship on Sunday. Hotels, campgrounds, and short-term rentals in the area would see an increase in bookings. Restaurants, cafes, and local retailers throughout Saugeen Shores and neighbouring communities would all benefit from the influx, Greig said.
He also said the tournament would showcase the area’s beaches, businesses, and scenery to visitors who may be discovering the Grey-Bruce area for the first time and could prompt return visits. Many teams fly into Pearson airport and head north, offering an opportunity for those “coming from outside of Ontario to come and see how beautiful it is.”
Beyond the dollars, Greig emphasized the community value of hosting a championship as well as the lasting impact. He noted that a 2019 winning team from Shallow Lake was recently honoured at the Owen Sound Sports Hall of Fame. Many players returned with families and supporters for a reunion. He said local children who served as bat boys during that tournament still talk about the friendships and memories they made, experiences he believes can inspire more young people to stay involved in the sport. For Greig, who has three children in fastball, that youth connection is one of the strongest reasons to pursue the bid.
The vision for the future is not to just host one tournament in 2027. Greig said after this event, he hopes Saugeen Shores can host national championship events three years in a row as well as larger-scale ones. “If we show we can host this event, the girls will be able to host an even bigger one, they actually have roughly 10 times the team count that the boys do.” Doing so could make Saugeen Shores a destination for elite fastball and “could open the door to events to bigger events like world championships,” said Greig.
Deputy Mayor Diane Huber asked Greig about the timeline for the bid process. He said it was normally a two-year process, but that there had been no formal bids submitted for 2027 to date, so they were eager to get one in. In order to make a formal bid, a contract for the venue and a letter of support from council are required.
Council members responded positively, with Vice Deputy Mayor Mike Myatt noting that the proposal fit with part of “the original vision for Lamont Sports Park as a venue capable of attracting major tournaments.” The request will now go to municipal staff, who will prepare a report and any recommendations to be brought before council at an upcoming meeting.
