MOUNT VERNON – Signups have begun for the fall Babe Ruth Baseball League for players ages 13 to 17 with evaluations held on Aug. 7.
A second Saturday of registration will be held at the announcer’s booth from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Babe Ruth field at Memorial Park, Hank Snow, founder of the league, told the Mount Vernon News.
Evaluations – Snow said they used to be called tryouts – enable coaches to see the players perform to decide who they want to draft for their teams.
Games begin after a short practice period. A double elimination tournament marks the end of the season by Oct. 15.
Snow said the league gets a nice mixture of kids up to high school players. The upper age limit is players whose 17th birthdays were no later than Nov. 1, 2020.
The league is always looking for volunteers, coaches and managers, Snow said. Call him at 740-504-5673 to volunteer.
“We’re starting to get kids that played years ago are coming in to help them out managing and coaching,” he said.
The fall Babe Ruth League got its start in 2002 by Snow; his wife, Barbara; and a few other people.
“We thought there was a need for kids that still wanted to play baseball in the fall with their game,” he said.
The league started with three teams, had a peak of 10 teams but usually ends up with five teams, depending on how many sign up.
Last year during the pandemic, Snow said, the Babe Ruth League was the only group playing sports, with most organizations canceling their seasons.
With the age difference of 13- to 17-year-olds, the older kids take younger kids under their wings and help teach them the game. Playing in the league teaches patience, maturity and how to get along with other kids, he said.
“As I told the parents one time, I said if anybody thinks you're doing this for a $6 trophy, you're sadly mistaken. You're doing this for the kids,” Snow said.
All games are played locally, which Barbara Snow said is a plus for a lot of parents.
“I think some of the parents appreciate that, because they don't have to travel all over the place to play,” she said.
The league also keeps its schedule free on Fridays so the kids can go to local football games.
“We try to stay away from games on Friday night so that they can go to football games if they want. They aren't committed to baseball on Friday nights," she said.
