Portage la Prairie may get a junior baseball team in future, but it will require upgrades to diamonds at Republic Park.

Local citizen Shane Moffat spoke to Council this week, sharing plans to establish a Portage team in the Winnipeg Junior Baseball League by 2018. He urged Council to consider re-allocating upwards of $40,000 from the City's accommodation tax toward the proposed work to the ball diamonds at Republic.

Shane Moffat, who's actively involved in sports in the community, namely as president of Centennial Community Club Inc., in charge of the BDO Centre, spoke at council earlier this week. He shared plans to bring junior baseball and more baseball events to Portage, but said work needs to be done at Republic Park. (photo by Matt Hermiz)

“At the end of the day that tax is for events and to bring people into the community,” Moffat says. “If we can bring a junior baseball team it just brings more people into our town and it's good for businesses and the economy.”

There are already plans for some work to take place at Republic. The PRRA announced recently it was going to enclose dugouts, build a new practice batting cage, run water to and fix the fencing for two diamonds.

The largest upgrade needed to the ball diamonds, Moffat says, is changing the infield composition to a red brick dust. He estimates that will cost about $20,000 to do one infield, and says that's one of the major hurdles preventing Baseball Manitoba events, such as provincial championships, from being held in Portage.

The Santa Clara Baseball League's Portage Padres were recently turned down to host a provincial championship in Portage.

“If your facility is top notch you're going to get those events,” says Moffat. “If we get this all done, we can start having tournaments. I've lived in town for 36 years and I've seen one tournament.”

“Get this done and Portage is looking good: We're right in the centre of the province, and we can start hosting events here,” Moffat continues. “Host a few age groups, it brings a number of people (to Portage). Your hotels, campgrounds and restaurants will all fill up.”

Deputy Mayor and PRRA board member Brent Budz says the request will be considered during budget deliberations.

“I know (David Sattler) and the board at PRRA do look at the Republic Park baseball diamonds as an area of improvement,” Budz explains. “We do recognize we have one of the best facilities in the province, but it does lack in the baseball department.”

“As we go through budget, we will look for some opportunities to increase funding to address some of those shortfalls.”