WESTFIELD – A controversy stemming from play in the New England Regionals has thrown a wrinkle into the Babe Ruth Baseball 14-Year-Old World Series schedule at Bullens Field.
According to multiple sources, the field of World Series participants is expanding to include an additional two teams due to what Babe Ruth officials felt was essentially unsportsmanlike conduct detrimental to the integrity of the game.
After pool play wrapped up last week in the Cal Ripken New England Regional in Harrison, Maine, the host team, Tri County, complained to tournament officials that Arlington’s approach to one of its games was “unfair”, Doug Hastings of the Arlington Advocate/wickedlocal.com reported.
Apparently, if Arlington, had defeated Portland in pool play, Tri County would have advanced to the semifinals, but rather missed out on the semis entirely on tiebreakers.
In effect, opposing coaches claimed Arlington, and possibly other teams, were conspiring to keep Tri County out of the semis.
In a surprise ruling, tournament officials agreed. The first three days of games was essentially erased, and all of the teams were forced to essentially start over with a single-elimination format, which Tri Town eventually won.
After those results, Arlington filed a protest with Babe Ruth, Inc., forcing a decision from the top. Tri Town would represent the New England region at the World Series, and two of the top four remaining teams would also be added, making the World Series a 12-team field up from the original 10.
“This is something that has never happened before,” Arlington manager Tom Ahern said in an exclusive interview with The Westfield News.
“We would have liked the original pool play format to continue,” he said, “instead of being changed … I think for everyone involved, (this is) the best decision.”
In the eyes of the governing body, it was the only decision.
“Our goal was to have as many kids as possible get a fair shake, and do what is best for Westfield,” Babe Ruth League International commissioner Robert Faherty told The Westfield News Tuesday.
Arlington will take on Newtown (Conn.) this Thursday night at Westfield State University at 5 p.m. Warwick (R.I.) and Portland (Maine) will battle the same night in Arlington at 7. The winner of each of those games will move on to play in the World Series.
The additional World Series teams will force a fifth game, likely in the early morning hours, to be played daily at Bullens Field during the pool play portion of the tournament, and another at Westfield State.
“The additional teams don’t hurt in any way,” Faherty said. “There will be more attendance, more hotels being booked, and more meals in town. The competition continues to go up. That’s going to be exciting. I can’t wait to throw out that first pitch and get into it.”
Now, let’s just hope Mother Nature agrees.
