Demopolis plans for Babe Ruth World Series
In one month Demopolis is expected to grow by some up to 800 people for two weeks. The influx of visitors will be in town for the 19th annual Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old World Series.
In the planning stages for two years, the series was awarded to Demopolis last fall, and work has been going on ever since to make sure the experience is a home run for players, their coaches and families and the residents of Demopolis.
The support that organizers have received “has been tremendous,” said Rob Pearson who, with Art Evans, is spearheading the event. It “has exceeded our expectations.” Evans is Alabama Babe Ruth District Commissioner.
The two of them along with 50-60 volunteers have been working behind the scenes “to make it a great experience for these teams” that are coming from around the country. All games will be played at the SportsPlex Aug. 8-15.
A great committee has been assembled for the ball fields, Pearson said. That aspect of the tournament planning has been going on since November. “I’m not worried about the Sports Plex,” said Pearson.
What will make or break the tournament is “external to the ballfield,” explained Evans.
“It’s those things we can’t control,” Pearson continued. “Our restaurants are going to be hammered,” and it doesn’t help that two popular eating places closed within the last month. Volunteers are working on ideas now so that visitors will have a place to go to eat or have meals catered.
Since Demopolis has a lot of assets, the tournament committee is preparing a list of things to do, tour ideas and attractions for visitors.
. “It’s going to be big, and you’ve got a lot of people to be entertained,” said Pearson.
“We sold this tournament … on our hospitality, specifically Southern hospitality,” he went on. “I’m really feeling good. You’ve got to have the help, and we’re getting it. (Visitors are) going to leave remembering what a good time they had.”
A banquet at the Civic Center kicks off everything Aug. 7. Ten teams will compete. They include one from each of the eight regions, a team from Alabama and a host West Alabama team, made up of players from Clarke, Marengo and Sumter counties.
Tryouts for the local team were held last week. Leading the coaching staff is Demopolis native, former UA star infielder and New York Yankee first baseman Andy Phillips. His staff includes former UA coach Jim Wells, former UA pitcher Joel Colgrove and Mike Randall.
The teams are playing in state tournaments now. Winners of the regionals won’t be decided until the end of this month. It is then the city will know where the teams are coming from.
Demopolis will be providing information at all the regional events to let teams know about their destination. The World Series serves as gateway experiences for many first-time visitors, inspiring many to make plans for return trips and vacations to the area and region.
Area hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, shopping outlets, gas stations, entertainment venues and other local business will experience direct spending from attendees. Blocks of rooms have been reserved at all the local motels and in Livingston.
“We are raising our own self-image of what we can achieve in West Alabama,” Pearson said proudly. “Our own reputation is at stake.”
Evans was the first to toss the idea of getting the tournament to come to Demopolis. The vision was to get the World Series here, and then people would rally around it.
“They’re all behind the vision,” said Pearson.
Putting on such a tournament doesn’t come cheaply. While the National Babe Ruth organization is running the tournament, Demopolis must cover the cost of transporting teams to and from airports and provide a fleet of rental cars for coaches, umpires and officials.
At the SportsPlex, the city is paying for two new scoreboards and a renovated press box and concession stands.
Pearson said the facility upgrades may pay for themselves. The SportsPlex has applied for a grant from the National Park Service for LED lighting. If awarded, the grant requires a 50 percent match, which the upgrades would more than cover.
Volunteers still will be needed to help with parking and ticket sales on the days of the games, but the best way to help is to buy a tournament pass, said Evans. The tickets are $60 for a family of up to four children, or $25 for an individual. The passes cover all the games.
Evans and Pearson see the success of the World Series opening the doors to Demopolis becoming a destination for future state, regional and national tournaments.
“If this goes well, we’ll get another World Series,” said Pearson.
Babe Ruth League, Inc. is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to developing better citizens by providing properly supervised baseball and softball competition for 4- through 18-year-old players. It is the basic intent of Babe Ruth League that every player who has a desire to play the sport is given the opportunity to participate and have fun.