Party for the Pirates: Pasadena celebrates youth baseball championship with parade

The Pasadena Pirates plundered a gold medal at the Atlantic Baseball Championships earlier this summer, and residents of the western Newfoundland town came together to celebrate with a parade in their honour on Wednesday.

The U13AA team went undefeated in its championship run, defeating Team P.E.I. just three weeks after winning a provincial championship. Parent Amanda Robinson said fundraising from the community and local businesses made the trip possible.

Robinson said the town's recreation department contacted the team to express a desire to celebrate the victory, which she says shows how passionate the community is for its youth.

"I think it shows a lot about the town and what they value. Valuing children, young people and their passions. And celebrating sports and celebrating accomplishments," Robinson told CBC News.

"It just becomes a whole big family. Like you just don't go and win Atlantics, you do it and celebrate with the whole town. It's pretty, pretty great."

WATCH | Pasadena rolls out a parade for young baseball stars:

Star pirates get a parade and applause in Pasadena after winning baseball championship

11 days ago

Duration 1:00

The U13AA Pasadena Pirates defeated Team P.E.I. earlier this summer to win the Atlantic Baseball Championships. On Wednesday, the town came together to celebrate the victory with a parade.

Wednesday's parade saw the team driven around the community to honking cars and cheering fans. A pizza party also marked the victory with a speechby Baseball N.L. president Darren Hancock and a video message from Premier Andrew Furey.

Carter Young, a 13-year-old Pasadena Pirate from Deer Lake, said it was exciting to see the town rally behind the players.

"I've been watching baseball for a very long time, and I've always wanted something like this to happen to me. It's a very cool experience," he said.

"I've never done something like that before for any sports I've ever played."

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