Softball Series Getting Closer

The Lamar World Series Committee is starting to finalize some plans, now that the Babe Ruth 16U Softball World Series is less than three months away. Committee members met this past Wednesday for an update on accomplishments and a listing of areas that still need to be covered.

Volunteers are needed. That was driven home by the 2009 Series when Lamar first hosted the Cal Ripken games at the new Sports Complex. A second field has been built and the finishing touches will be done to Citizen’s Field during the summer months. A new sound system has been ordered, banners are being ordered for Main Street, tee shirt bids have been sent out, arrangements for tickets and wrist bands are being set, as well as ticket prices. Donations are also being sought, as 300 letters have been mailed to area businesses. It’s estimated it will cost $100,000 to put on the softball games, from start to finish, but because of the way these games are structured, there’s more of an opportunity to generate revenue for the communities.

There will be no host families for these games.  This time the competition will be pool play; ensuring teams will play more games over more days. All teams and family members will be in town for a minimum of seven days, the length of the initial games before the play-offs begin on August 10. Teams are scheduled to arrive by August 4. As in 2009, volunteers and ambassadors will be needed to play host to team members, officials and families. Youngsters in their early to late teens are being sought, and those who wish to help should contact Dorothy Comer at the Lamar Community Building at 336-2774. The ambassadors will travel to Denver to meet their respective teams from eight districts in the country as they arrive, and travel with them as their team buses to make the initial trip to Lamar. Those schedules aren’t known at this time, and the teams haven’t even entered their regional competitions for late July and early August. Other volunteers will be used to sell programs and man the souvenir booth, act as information runners and adults well be needed as field supervisors at each game for medical purposes. Several young players succumbed to the heat, altitude and sun during the 2009 Series.

Ticket prices have been set by the committee, and should be on sale by July 1. The cost for a family of five, two adults and three kids for the entire series is $50. Single day prices are $15 for an adult and $10 for a youngster. Individual prices for the tournament are $35 for an adult and $25 for youngsters. More wristbands will be issued this year if possible. The players will receive a discount on prices to the Sand and Sage fair, too, as fair board members have been coordinating with the Series committee to offer the discounts to those visitors who have never experienced a PRCA rodeo or county fair.

A banquet of champions has been set for the LCC Wellness center for Friday, August 5 and opening ceremonies will be held starting at 9am at the Sports Complex on August 6. The Lamar host team will play the Pacific Northwest team that evening at 8pm. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, August 13.

By Russ Baldwin