Babe Ruth World Series Teams Announced

The Babe Ruth League for the 16 and Under Softball World Series announced the regional teams that will compete in the series games in Lamar this August. They are: 

Pacific Northwest – North Olympic, Washington 

Pacific Southwest – Lodi, California 

Ohio Valley – Wausau, Wisconsin 

New England – Lancaster, New Hampshire 

Southwest – Hamburg, Arkansas 

Southeast – Wilson County, North Carolina 

Middle Atlantic – Levittown, New York 

Colorado State Champs – East Central, Colorado 

Lamar, Colorado All Star Team 

The first game is set for Citizen’s Field at 11:30am on Saturday, August 6 between North Olympic, Washington vs Lodi, California. The remaining match-ups for the day will be New Hampshire vs Wausau at 1:30pm; Wilson County vs Hamburg at 3:30pm; Levittown vs East Central at 6pm and the Lamar All Stars will play at 8am against North Olympic in that team’s game of the day. 

The Lamar World Series Committee is making last minute preparations for the teams to be picked up at Denver International Airport. Busses have been donated from various schools in southeast Colorado, and Tri County Ford in Lamar is donating about ten vehicles for team coaches. Ambassadors will travel to Denver to pick up and escort their teams back to Lamar. Travel arrangements will be varied as well, depending on the schedules the Babe Ruth Committee has made with the airlines. In some cases, if two teams are arriving within an hour or two of each other, a bus will wait to transport both teams to Lamar instead of making additional trips. 

Once in Lamar the teams’ briefing will continue at the Community Building, along with a meal of pizzas donated by Little Caesars and fruit trays and cookies. Information packets and schedules of community activities are being compiled for players and coaches. Phone numbers and locations of such municipal services such as hospital, police, Welcome Center, ball fields, practice schedules, swimming pool, shopping areas, restaurants…etc. are also being assembled. 

Because of the excessive heat this summer, considerable discussion at the committee meetings focused on keeping the players and umpires well hydrated and cooled. Because of the heat situation, the Babe Ruth League allowed the use of six umpires instead of five for the Series, to allow them a rotation and rest period. Other briefing times include a coach’s breakfast meeting at the Lamar Elks Lodge on August 5 at 8am. 

Tickets are available for the Banquet of Champions at 6pm that evening at the LCC Wellness Center. Opening ceremonies are set for August 6 at 9am at Citizens Field. All tickets are available from PCDI, 201 South Main Street in Lamar. 

By Russ Baldwin