Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball 14-Year-Old All-Star pitcher Austin St. Pierre delivers to a batter during tournament play. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – This summer, the Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball 13-Year-Old All-Stars came within one game of playing for the New England Regional championship with a fabulous tournament run in Manchester, N.H. The city’s 14-year-old All-Stars team made noise attempting to defend its (13-year-old) N.E. regional title from a year ago.
While these two teams dazzled on baseball diamonds throughout the state – and beyond – their summer seasons came to an end. Although the temperatures will surely fall with the change of the seasons, players new and old can continue to heat up the base paths in the Whip City.
For more than 10 years, the Greater Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball League has coordinated a very successful fall baseball program for local ball players, as well as those from surrounding
“Playing other teams” like Gateway, Southampton, Easthampton, Northampton, Amherst, South Hadley, Chicopee, and Greenfield “makes it a lot more fun for all the teams,” Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball president Dan Welch said.
The season runs from Labor Day through the end of October.
“Fall baseball is played on weekends, only fully realizing that this is soccer and football season as well as the perfect time for more baseball,” Welch said.
Players are added to teams with the knowledge that players may have other sports commitments in the fall.
The fall baseball program started out as a way to teach the players coming out of Little League about the game on the 90 foot diamond. In many cases this was the 12-year-olds’ first exposure to the big field. At first, skill sessions were planned by Babe Ruth coaches but after three to four weeks of practice, the kids wanted to play real games. Thus, the fall league was born with real games scheduled in addition to the skill sessions.
Games are played in a relaxed and fun environment with the focus on skills and the transition to 90 foot bases and 300 foot fences with no regard for standings and on winning or losing. Trained Babe Ruth coaches volunteer their time to help teach baseball skills and make this a fun experience.
The fall league has grown to include four age divisions and also involves participating in the Western Massachusetts High School league for older players. The age divisions include 12- and 13-year-olds, 14- and 15-year-olds, and high school Junior Varsity and Varsity levels. While the high school teams are very competitive, the younger teams continue to focus on playing more baseball in the fall.
All players from Westfield Little League that played this past season as 12-year-olds on the smaller field are encouraged to play fall baseball. They are teamed up with 13-year-olds who have played in Westfield Babe Ruth or Westfield Senior League. Players in the 14- and 15-year-old age groups are able to choose the local fall baseball league or the more competitive high school league all coordinated by the Greater Westfield Babe Ruth League umbrella.
There is an informational meeting scheduled by Welch (also the fall baseball league coordinator) on Wednesday, August 7 at Bullens Field. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. The cost to play fall baseball is only $65 for the local leagues and $90 for high school level teams.
Players from Westfield, Southwick, West Springfield, Agawam, Blandford, Huntington, Granville, Montgomery, Russell, Chester and Montgomery are encouraged to play fall baseball. For more information, attend the signup meeting Wednesday night at 7 or call Dan Welch at 562-7755.
Notes: Westfield Little League recently held its signups for fall baseball, ensuring the sport’s success for a long time to come.
