Advance Manufacturing’s Jack Hall gets ready for the 2020 season at Bullens Field. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Fourth of July will not be the only time-honored tradition celebrated in the Whip City (albeit in a slightly different way this year) in the coming days. Westfield residents also have a long-standing tradition of youth baseball known as Babe Ruth, and it is set for a star-spangled debut.
Pending any last-minute delays to implement the state’s Phase 3 reopening plan, the Greater Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball season is expected to kick off Mon., July 6.
The Babe Ruth opener will feature Westfield Bank vs. Advance Manufacturing. The game will begin at 6 p.m.
“I’m very excited for the beginning, getting back to some normalcy for baseball in the city,” Westfield Bank manager Aaron Wagner said when practices resumed earlier in June. “With the guidelines the state has and the Babe Ruth board, it has been deemed safe to have a season for the kids to go forth and play.”
It has been a long wait for Babe Ruth players, who have been practicing 2-3 times a week since June 8.
A social distancing plan has been in place for practices, and will be extended into the regular season. Masks are mandatory for players and coaches in the dugout area. Fans are also encouraged to wear masks at the ballpark when social distancing is not possible.
Games will take place most weeknights at Bullens Field. The Babe Ruth League and Westfield Starfires baseball team will share Bullens Field. Jachym Field will be used as an alternate site. Double headers and triple headers are planned.
The Babe Ruth season will culminate with the Dan Welch City Cup Championship series Aug. 17-27. The City Cup Championship is a long-standing tradition of the league in the Whip City.
“We encourage all Westfield and surrounding towns baseball fans to come out to watch our games,” Greater Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball League President Dan Welch said.
All games are free and open to the public.
“We’re trying to put a good foot forward to play and protect everybody,” Welch said. “We’re excited. The kids really want to play.”
– – –
2020 GREATER WESTFIELD BABE RUTH BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Mon., July 6
Westfield Bank vs. Advance Manufacturing, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Tues., July 7
Batter’s Box vs. ITI, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Thurs., July 9
Cortina Tile vs. Berkshire Insurance, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Sat., July 11
Berkshire Insurance vs. Advance Manufacturing, Bullens Field, 1 p.m.
Batter’s Box vs. Westfield Bank, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
ITI vs. Cortina Tile, Bullens Field, 7 p.m.
Sun., July 12
Advance Manufacturing vs. ITI, Bullens Field, 10 a.m.
Mon., July 13
Westfield Bank vs. Berkshire Insurance, Bullens Field, 5:15 p.m.
Cortina Tile vs. Batter’s Box, Bullens Field, 8 p.m.
Tues., July 14
Cortina Tile vs. Westfield Bank, Jachym FIeld, 6 p.m.
Wed., July 15
ITI vs. Berkshire Insurance, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Thurs., July 16
Batter’s Box vs. Advance Manufacturing, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Sat., July 18
Advance Manufacturing vs. Cortina Tile, Bullens Field, 10 a.m.
Westfield Bank vs. ITI, Bullens Field, 1 p.m.
Berkshire Insurance vs. Batter’s Box, Jachym Field, 4 p.m.
Sun., July 19
Berkshire Insurance vs. Cortina Tile, Bullens Field, 10 a.m.
Mon., July 20
ITI vs. Batter’s Box, Bullens Field, 5:15 p.m.
Advance Manufacturing Westfield Bank, Bullens Field, 8 p.m.
Tues., July 21
Westfield Bank vs. Batter’s Box, Jachym Field, 6 p.m.
Wed., July 22
Cortina Tile vs. ITI, Jachym Field, 6 p.m.
Thurs., July 23
Advance Manufacturing vs. Berkshire Insurance, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Fri., July 24
Batter’s Box vs. Cortina Tile, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Sat., July 25
ITI vs. Advance Manufacturing, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
Berkshire Insurance vs. Westfield Bank, Bullens Field, 7 p.m.
Sun., July 26
Advance Manufacturing vs. Batter’s Box, Bullens Field, 10 a.m.
Mon., July 27
Westfield Bank vs. Cortina Tile, Bullens Field, 5:15 p.m.
Berkshire Insurance vs. ITI, Bullens Field, 8 p.m.
Tues., July 28
ITI vs. Westfield Bank, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Wed., July 29
Batter’s Box vs. Berkshire Insurance, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Thurs., July 30
Cortina Tile vs. Advance Manufacturing, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 1
Batter’s Box vs. ITI, Bullens Field, Bullens Field, 1 p.m.
Cortina Tile vs. Berkshire Insurance, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
Westfield Bank vs. Advance Manufacturing, Bullens Field, 7 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 2
Berkshire Insurance vs. Advance Manufacturing, Bullens Field, 12:30 p.m.
ITI vs. Cortina Tile, Bullens FIeld, 3:30 p.m.
Batter’s Box vs. Westfield Bank, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Tues., Aug. 4
Westfield Bank vs. Berkshire Insurance, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 5
Cortina Tile vs. Batter’s Box, Bullens Field, 6 p.m.
Thurs., Aug. 6
Advance Manufacturing vs. ITI, Jachym Field, 6 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 7
ITI vs. Berkshire Insurance, Bullens Field, 7 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 8
Cortina Tile vs. Westfield Bank, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
Batter’s Box vs. Advance Manufacturing, Bullens Field, 7 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 9
Advance Manufacturing vs. Cortina Tile, Bullens Field, 12:30 p.m.
Berkshire Insurance vs. Batter’s Box, Bullens Field, 3:30 p.m.
Westfield Bank vs. ITI, Bullens Field, 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 17-27
Dan Welch City Cup Championship Tournament
