According to a report by Honkbalsite.com Bill Foster, mayor of St. Petersburg and initiator of the St. Petersburg International Baseball, is eying the national teams of Italy and Jamaica as additions to the current field of teams for next year’s edition of the Spring Training event at Al Lang Field. The tournament ends in a couple of days and he is satisfied with the inaugural event, which features the Netherlands, Canada’s Junior National Team, the Seoul Nexen Heroes, St. Petersburg Storm, Penn State University, St. Petersburg College, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays.
The Dutch team of manager Brian Farley is facing St. Petersburg College tonight before closing out its trip with a matchup versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Foster received a few gifts from the Netherlands before throwing out the ceremonial pitch for their matchup against the Rays (3-4 loss). He hopes that Al Lang Field, which isn’t used anymore by a MLB organization, will have the chance to host a few games of the next World Baseball Classic.