Riverway Slo-Pitch League was the first league in Canada to host an SPN QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT in April of 1989.

Our league has been operating since the early ’70s and we still have teams and players participating since that time. Originally Riverway was part of the YMCA/YWCA league that was organized by the Burnaby Parks and Recreation. Each year the Burnaby Parks Board Rep. would meet at a designated park and hand out to the (8) teams in the league (2) wooden bats, (2) new balls, throw down bases, and a schedule. Many businesses, such as Nabob Foods and Audrey’s Catering organized teams and participated weekly. The league further evolved when Burnaby Parks and Recreation asked Fred West (first coach of The Burnaby Bulls) to become the first President and to organize a committee to run the league. It was called the Burnaby Senior Mixed Slo-pitch League. We now operate as the Riverway Slo-Pitch League. The League evolved, grew, and became very competitive over a short period of time, as teams became increasingly better. A split in the League came with Paul Langford from the Batt’s forming an elite League playing out of the Newly opened Riverway Sports Complex, 2 diamonds. Although competitive, but not elite, the Men’s League grew to (40) teams and played at various parks in Burnaby (Confederation Park, Gilmore School, Westridge School, Suncrest Park, Moscrop Park, and Columbia College, Burnaby Lake). The League now plays 90 percent of our games out of the Riverway Sports Complex, which has grown to (7) diamonds.

The Coed league started out as a 5 male and 5 female format, but in 2014 we switched to a 6 male and 4 female format. The league can accommodate approximately 80 teams, divided into 4 categories. Senior’s, Women’s, Men’s, and Coed. While we do enjoy some very healthy competitiveness, most teams participate to enjoy the social and recreational aspects of the game.

Our Men’s League has been playing slo-pitch in Burnaby since the early 1970s and there are players still participating today.

Our Seniors league ( Old Fools League ) played on Tuesday nights along with some of the Coed teams for years. In 2011 the Senior’s league merged with the Riverway Coed Slo-pitch League. ( now called Riverway Slo-pitch Society). The seniors continue to play on Tuesday nights.

Our Ladies division started in 2012, playing on Tuesday nights along with the Senior’s Division.

The season starts in mid-April, ending with the Coed playoffs in early August. The league fees include an average of 24 league games, a May Ice Breaker Tournament, Playoff Tournaments in late July and early August, SPN insurance, groundskeeping, umpires, game balls, field equipment at each diamond, lineup cards, and scorebooks.

Our games are played at Riverway Park at Marine Way and Nelson.

Please feel free to stop by and visit us at Riverway Park and if you are interested as a player or have a team you would like to bring to Riverway contact any member of the executive or check out the application available on the website.

We look forward to seeing you at the park