LS Beasts Baseball Club

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The LS Beasts Baseball Club has been unable to secure field time in Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Pierrefonds-Roxboro. The club, which provides training and organizes teams for players aged nine to seventeen, joined the Can-Am United Baseball summer league this year. As a result of the denials, players, parents, and coaches have been traveling to Verdun, Town of Mount Royal, Hampstead, and even considering Malone, New York, for games and practices.

Pierrefonds-Roxboro officials cited a borough recognition policy that allows only one recognized baseball association to use their fields. They stated the policy aims to avoid competing programs and to keep fields available for local residents. The Pierrefonds Baseball Club also indicated that it wants to prioritize its members and Lac-St-Louis Baseball Québec players.

Dollard-des-Ormeaux council members said they would not rent fields to organizations in competition with the Dollard Amateur Baseball Association. The city’s position is that competing groups could draw players away from the local association.

LS Beasts president Menashi Mashaal says his club offers travel tournaments and professional coaching, with players paying more than $2,000 in fees. The club offered to pay rental fees but was not granted access. Parents from Dollard-des-Ormeaux have sent letters to council asking for access, noting that they pay taxes that support field maintenance. Mashaal points out that there is no bylaw prohibiting rental to other organizations.

Some municipalities such as Kirkland and St. Lazare have provided limited access, while others are full or have not finalized schedules. The LS Beasts have arranged some practices in Côte St. Luc and Town of Mount Royal, but field availability remains an issue.

Both Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Pierrefonds-Roxboro officials say the policies are longstanding and are intended to support recognized associations. Mayor Alex Bottausci of Dollard-des-Ormeaux has said that the matter is under review.

The LS Beasts started their season with games in Cornwall and Ottawa, reporting at least one win for each team. The club continues to look for local field options. n