Red Deer Riggers set for men's national baseball championship in New Brunswick
The senior AAA team qualified for nationals after winning last year's Sunburst League title and is now fundraising to cover roughly $50,000 in travel costs.
The Red Deer Riggers will compete at the 2026 Men's National Baseball Championships in Chatham, New Brunswick, from Aug. 20-23, facing the top senior men's AAA teams from across Canada.
The Riggers qualified after winning the 2025 Sunburst League championship over the Edmonton Cubs. Manager Jaret Chatwood said the team built on last year's roster while adding players from the Calgary Rockies, Calgary Diamondbacks, St. Albert Tigers and Sylvan Lake Gulls to strengthen the lineup.
Tournament play opens against Saskatchewan on Aug. 20, followed by games against New Brunswick and Ontario on Aug. 21 and British Columbia on Aug. 22, with quarterfinals that evening. Semifinals go Aug. 23, ahead of the bronze and gold medal games later that day.
Despite missing the Sunburst League playoffs this season with a 10-8 record, Chatwood called the year productive. The team took a break before beginning nationals preparations and has been fundraising to cover about $50,000 in travel costs for flights and accommodations. Red Deer is separately raising funds to host the 2029 Men's National Baseball Championships at Great Chief Park, a tournament it last hosted in 2023.
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