Letter: Disappointed in announcement of a second Baseball Academy

The following letter was sent to Prairie Rose Public Schools regarding the new Southern Alberta Baseball Academy. It was also shared with us for publication.

Dear Superintendent Weeks

Have you ever felt like you have been stabbed in the back? This is how I and other community members felt when hearing the announcement of the start up of a Southern Alberta Baseball Academy out of Eagle Butte. Ever since the media announcement of Dec. 16, 2024 it has felt like the knife is being twisted to inflict pain to the Badlands Baseball Academy and to the surrounding community members that faithfully support it. 

What on earth were you thinking of starting another Baseball Academy right in your own division? This can only mean a direct conflict for dollars and recruitment? A situation where no one wins. In the news release it was stated “Having a program out of Eagle Butte would have benefits for both teams.” Please explain to me how that is possible.

Let’s remember why the Badlands Baseball Academy was first established.  It was established to make possible the growth of a student population to a very rural South Central High School in order make possible the preservation of a strong teaching staff.  The promotion of baseball was secondary.  Thank you, Prairie Rose, for making it much more difficult.

I know first hand how difficult it is to recruit players and keep operating cost to a minimum in order to offer a comparative program with other academies through out the province and Canada wide. The Badlands tuition has not changed since its inception and with the cost of inflation is amazing it is able to operate. A supportive relationship with the Town of Oyen makes possible for the use of the ball diamond and club house. The Academy hosts 3 major fundraisers each year with a goal of $40,000 to meet their budget. These fund raisers are supported by the community that also support many other fund-raising entities through out local communities. Given the population of the area one can appreciate the importance of the Badlands Academy holds within the community by their support.

It was a disappointment to learn of the renovations to the School Division office located in Oyen to become a teacher’s residence and not a dorm. This would have been a great investment in the Badlands Academy. Perhaps you should have not sold off the teacherages that were already available in the community. I think of the investment of getting the SABA up and running and wonder how that could have benefited the Badlands program if redirected. Recruiting billets in a small community is very difficult and is always a struggle. Having a dorm would help to make the program that much secure when recruiting players.

It was also mentioned in the media release as to the establishment of an academy league. This would establish a hierarchy among academies where the stronger academies would dominate creating an environment where some academies would meet their demise as a result of recruitment retention and promotion. This would not be beneficial to any of the academies with the exception of the stronger.      

It is with great disappointment that the Prairie Rose School Board would support the start up of another Baseball Academy right in its own division. It would have made much better sense to enhance the already existing Badlands Baseball Academy and let it shine as the jewel for the whole division. Yes, a real stab in the back! If you were compelled to promote Baseball in Southern Alberta it should have been for a Girls Soft Ball Academy which is badly needed!!!

Very disappointed!!
Heather Norris
Past President of the Badlands Baseball Academy Ltd.