The 2014 Babe Ruth Baseball 14-Year-Old New England Regional champions hoist their prize. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield 14-year old Babe Ruth squad, who recently were crowned champions of the New England region in Newtown, Conn., are on their way to the Babe Ruth World Series, to be played in Ocala, Fla. later this month.
As is the case with any great championship team, community support has been an integral part of the team’s success, and that support will have to continue if the boys are to continue their winning ways in the Sunshine State.
So far, the team has raised over half of the $40,000 they need to for the team’s 16 players and three coaches to make the trip, according to Westfield Babe Ruth President Dan Welch.
“The response has been great. I’ve been picking 25-30 checks almost every morning from individuals and businesses,” said Welch Friday.
Welch said that Westfield’s 14-year old sluggers have advanced along with 10 teams from around the country, eight other regional champs and two host teams from Florida.
“The boys are traveling down next Wednesday. They’ll be guaranteed four games in pool play, and play on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday,” said Welch. “If we finish in the top three in our pool, we’ll advance to single elimination playoffs.”
The tournament will conclude on Friday, August 22.
Welch said that the boys have been hustling in their short window of time to raise money for the trip.
“They’ve had about 10 days to raise the money. They’ve been out for coin drops and soliciting local businesses,” he said, adding that they will be running a carwash on Sunday at Zuber’s. “They’re doing raffles and a Friendly’s benefit from 2-9 p.m. Monday on East Main Street, which we get 20 percent of the proceeds for.”
Welch added that donations, large and small, can also be mailed to support the team to Westfield Babe Ruth, P.O. Box 431, Westfield, MA, 01085.
