Head coach Shane Swann, right, and assistant coach Brennan Payne will once again lead the host team in this summer’s Babe Ruth World Series in Jamestown. OBSERVER file photo
The 2021 Babe Ruth World Series at Dietrich Park in Jamestown was one to remember, especially for the 13-year-old host team.
The Jamestown Crusaders got off to a stellar start, winning their first two games to earn a spot in the playoffs. Jamestown put up a good fight in the playoffs, but in the end, it was left to the team that finished 2nd.
“We won the first two games of the final.” Jamestown head coach Shane Swan said. “As far as I can remember, this is the first time a Jamestown team has won two games. Then we lost one by one in the playoffs. A couple bad plays here and there in the playoffs we lost, the game could have easily gone our way.
Playing in the Babe Ruth World Series is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many athletes, but that doesn’t have to be the case for many of the 2021 Crusaders players. Jamestown is once again hosting the Babe Ruth World Series and this time the age group is 13 to 15, which means many players will get another shot.
There is no guarantee that all players on the 2021 team will be on the 2023 team, but their first opportunity to compete will be on February 12 at Goldstar Athletics in Falconer, New York. Participants with surnames will be tested between 9-10.30am and those with NZ surnames will be tested between 10.30am and noon.
Players born between May 1, 2007 and April 30, 2010 and who live in or attend schools in Chautauqua County, Warren County School District or Cattaraugus County west of Route 219 are eligible to audition.
“We’re expecting over 100 kids to come.” Swann talked about experiments. “I think it’s a good idea for the board to open up the age group and get more interest in the sport in the area. We’ll work on infield drills, throwing, hitting and fielding. As for the returning players, I hope they’ll give it a try. They don’t have a guaranteed spot in the team, so they have to get it.”
Definitely returning are assistant coaches Brennin Payne and Fred Carder. Joining the staff for the first Babe Ruth World Series is Chris Yost.
“We have a list of four head coaches.” Swan said of the coaching staff. “When you have three guys as good as them, it makes my job easier. Payne was the head coach at Falconer, Carder was our pitching coach and is now the head coach at Falconer, and Yost did some coaching at Frewsburg.”
Swann and his crew Hopes are high for this team after a strong showing in 2021. They bring most of their experience coaching high school athletes, and are well versed in the team’s expansion to 15-year-olds.
“Last time we had to teach a 13-year-old group.” Swann talked about coaching the 2021 team. “We know high school, but we don’t know that age level. We know that team now and we coach high schoolers.
The strength of the teams competing in the Babe Ruth World Series is that they know each other. While that might be a strike against most hosting teams, it won’t be now. If there are enough players eligible to return from the 2021 team that has had so much success, this year’s team could make some noise.
“Some of these teams have been playing together their whole lives.” Swan said of the race. Pulling from Chautauqua County, Cattaraugus and Warren County School Districts is beneficial because we can do good production in the field. The more exposure these kids get, the more opportunities they have. There’s no kid here to tell you they didn’t have a good time. The Jamestown crowd was great and it was a wonderful experience.
The biggest hurdle the team will face with the talent to bring Jamestown back is the cost of putting the team together.
“We’re looking for donations.” Swan pointed out. “Managing this team is very expensive and the burden falls on the coaches. If anyone wants to donate they can contact me at 716-499-1363 and I can get them a donation form or call Jamestown Bobby Ruth and mention that the donation is going to the World Series team. He said.
.
[ad_2]