World series tournament begins Aug. 15

MOSES LAKE — The 2009 16-18 Babe Ruth World Series baseball tournament less than three weeks away and the Babe Ruth World Series Task Force will meet Wednesday night to discuss the event to be held at Larson Playfield.

The task force discussed housing options, volunteer opportunities and tournament-event scheduling.

Tournament co-Director and World Series Task Force Chairman Randy Boruff said the tournament is right around the corner.

“We are exactly two weeks and one day away,” he said. “For the first time I feel relaxed with everything we have going on here. I feel real comfortable.”

With the tournament beginning Aug. 15, the Babe Ruth World Series Task Force has found enough housing for tournament participants, said housing co-Coordinator Eileen Martinez.

“We are done,” she said. “We have enough host parents for all of the kids.”

The housing situation for the world series is complete and Boruff said he is thankful for everyone’s help.

“We are in great shape with housing,” he said.

Tournament participants will begin arriving in Aug. 13 and Martinez said there will be a mandatory host-family meeting at Larson Playfield.

“We will have a meeting Aug. 11 at Larson Playfield at 7 p.m.,” she said.

Martinez said the host-family meeting will help host parents understand rules and regulations for housing tournament participants during the Babe Ruth World Series.

“We need at least one host-family parent to be there,” she said. “We will go over the rules and any questions (parents have) will be answered there.”

While all incoming tournament participants have been housed, the task force still needs to secure volunteers to help at the tournament, Boruff said.

“If anyone is interested in volunteering, they can call me and we will find a place to put them,” he said.

As the tournament nears, three teams have already qualified for the Babe Ruth World Series and the remaining seven teams will come to light after regional tournaments wrap up this weekend.

The Washington state champions (Puget Sound Roxx), the Southeast regional champion (Tennessee), and the Columbia Basin River Dogs (host team) have all punched their tickets for the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series. 

Advertising space is still available in the Babe Ruth World Series program.

To advertise in the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series program, contact Kerry Garbe at 509-750-4575.

To volunteer to help at the World Series tournament, contact Boruff at 509-750-4610.

Tickets for the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series are currently available in Moses Lake at the Columbia Basin Herald office, the Moses Lake Parks and Recreation Department, and the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Tickets are available at The Bookery and the Grant County Journal in Ephrata.