Winchester Parks and Recreation Director Brad Veach, shown at Yost Field in Jim Barnett Park, says plans for the 2011 Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series are shaping up.(Photo by Scott Mason/The Winchester Star)
A new paved walkway has been installed around Yost Field in Winchester’s Jim Barnett Park in preparation for the Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series.
(Photo by Scott Mason/The Winchester Star)
WINCHESTER- More than two months before the first pitch, preparations appear to be shaping up nicely for the 2011 Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series.
“All over town, you can see signs that the World Series is coming,” Brad Veach, director of the city Parks and Recreation Department, said of promotion for the Aug. 13-20 event. “We have pole banners lining Old Town, banners in Jim Barnett Park, and the series website is getting a good amount of activity.
Veach said local businesses have contributed about $120,000 – some in cash and some in equipment, services or goods required to operate the event or sellable to generate revenue.
Improvements have been made at Yost Field, where the games will be played, and more are scheduled.
Volunteers are coming forward to aid event operations.
Robert P. Faherty Jr., national vice president and commissioner of Babe Ruth League Inc., said Winchester easily passed its spring visitation inspection, during which preparation details were reviewed. Since then he has regularly talked with Veach about planning progress.
Winchester is one of nine sites hosting Babe Ruth League World Series events this year, and Faherty said he has changed his plans so he can attend the Aug. 12 Banquet of Champions and the next day’s opening ceremonies.
“I’m as excited about the Winchester community hosting the 10-year-old World Series this year as any we have this year,” he said. “It seems early to say this, but I think the Winchester community is going to have the type of partnership with Babe Ruth League that could see us bringing more than one World Series back to that community.”
Despite the early strong reviews, much remains to be done, and more money and help are needed.
Veach said he will seek sponsorship contributions of $500 or more for about 30 more days. He specifically is looking to fill team sponsorships at $2,000 each.
Much of the contributed money is flowing into the local economy. He estimated that city and Frederick County businesses have received about 80 percent of the $56,000 spent to date on expenses beyond the contract fees paid to Babe Ruth League, which sanctions Cal Ripken baseball.
Banners for the series were printed locally, he said, and a local contractor resurfaced the walking trails around the fields. Cabinets for the press box were purchased at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore outlet. A local company obtained the contract for souvenirs.
“By the time it’s all said and done,” Veach said, “there probably will be well over $100,000 spent locally.”
Yost Field has new lights, a new scoreboard, a new backstop, and a renovated press box, he said. The field will be graded in mid-June and converted to Bermuda grass, featuring a grass infield with base cutouts.
In addition to dollars, the remaining concerns are lining up enough volunteers to help conduct the tournament and sell tickets. Veach said a number of civic groups and businesses have pledged to provide volunteers, but more help is needed.
“The volunteers and sponsors make and break this event,” he said. “When you’ve got volunteers helping out by doing whatever it takes to get the job done, it helps the whole appearance of the series, helps with the hospitality of the event. It’s an extension of our community, the willingness to volunteer our time to help with kids.”
Faherty said he expects the community to “open up its arms to see that the kids will be treated in a first-class manner.”
Advance ticket sales have been slow, and Veach said he hopes they will pick up once the school year ends.
He hopes to find volunteers with extensive community connections to help with sales. Tickets can be purchased online, too.
“The series continues to need community support,” Faherty said, “and if someone is not volunteering, then at a minimum we’d like them coming and buying tickets and supporting the event. Buying a family pass and coming out and watching three or four games is big in the success of the event.”
Veach said fans traveling with participating teams should buy 400 to 600 tickets.
- Contact Vic Bradshaw at
vbradshaw@winchesterstar.com
