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OUR VIEW: More enthusiasm for 2012 Grand Forks International baseball tournament needed

The 2012 Grand Forks International baseball tournament is here and there isn't even a banner on Central Ave. saying it's tourney time.

Summer arrived late and while we technically still have a month left in the summer season, the mercury is certainly dipping in the night-time and early-morning hours.

School starts next week for students in the area and another sign that fall is on its way is the Grand Forks International (GFI) baseball tournament.

The action begins this afternoon (Aug. 29) with the Thurston County Senators taking on the Northwest Honkers and the opening ceremony takes place on Aug. 30 in the evening – the tournament will wrap up with the championship, which takes place on Labour Day.

Work is being done to prepare James Donaldson Park, as the lights at the ball diamond are on well into the night and motel parking lots have more vehicles than usual.

The chain link fence surrounding the park is being covered up and a GFI billboard has been placed on the corner of Donaldson Drive and Central Avenue.

The tournament is a premier sporting event in Grand Forks but besides some posters scattered around town and the said sign at the ballpark, there doesn’t seem to be more indication that the GFI is taking place.

The GFI is a big draw but there isn’t a banner on the eastern part of Central Avenue, heralding that it’s tournament time.

Market Avenue was closed off last Sunday and turned into a pedestrian mall area for the Airport Appreciation Day Fly-in and Show and Shine and while that was great and festive, there is no such promotion to run along the tournament.

There will be more people in town for the tournament, whether it be spectators or players, so wouldn’t it be good to capitalize on that, just like last Sunday with the air show?

The boys of summer are in town for the next few days for the Grand Forks International baseball tournament and it’s a shame that there isn’t more going on.