Blake Ellis/The Independent

There will be baseball in Oil Springs next year, thanks to some seed money from Oil Springs council.

The diamond no longer met Ontario Baseball Association rules and some big changes were needed to continue playing at the diamond beside the Oil Springs Youth Centre. 

At a cost of $5,000, the bases will be extended from 75 feet apart to 90 feet to meet Ontario Baseball Association rules. 

Tyler Welsh appeared before Oil Springs council Aug. 5, on behalf of the Oil Springs Drillers program. 

While the baseball program will be fundraising for the $5,000 needed, Welsh wanted to make sure baseball continued to be played in Oil Springs next season. 

In order to do this, council agreed to pay for the work up front with the baseball association reimbursing the village when its $5,000 fundraising goal is complete. 

The Oil Springs Drillers program began in 2022 and now has 70 youth participating, If this work wasn’t completed by the start of next season, kids might have to go to Brigden to continue playing next season. 

“I would rather see our kids stay in town,” said Oil Springs Mayor Ian Veen.