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Date: 9/11/2015
WESTFIELD – The 14-year-old Babe Ruth League World Series will officially come to Westfield in 2016.
Vice President/Commissioner of the Babe Ruth League Robert Faherty and President of Westfield Babe Ruth Dan Welch signed the contract at the Shortstop Bar and Grill on Sept. 3.
Westfield pitched hosting the World Series to Faherty and with improvements being made to Bullens Field, Welch said he had confidence the city would be home to a tournament soon.
“When he left the city’s reception that day I knew in my mind it wasn’t a question of if, it was a question of when we could do something,” Welch said.
It turns out, his suspicions were right.
“I was blown away that night … It was the closest I’ve come to saying, ‘To heck with it. You’ve got it,’” Faherty said to the crowd.
Members of the community came out to celebrate the announcement, including Mayor Daniel Knapik, state Sen. Don Humason, state Rep. John Velis, City Councilors Dave Flaherty, Ralph Figy, and Dan Allie as well as the Westfield Babe Ruth Executive Committee.
Knapik told Reminder Publications Westfield has a rich baseball history and welcoming the Babe Ruth League World Series only adds to that.
“I think it’s just unbelievable validation for Baseball City, Mass. We’re all excited for the opportunity to showcase our city for the nation and Babe Ruth players,” Knapik said. “It’s the culmination of many years of hard work to get here.”
That hard work is only just beginning, Knapik said. Though the city has hosted regional tournaments, it will need to prepare for a series on a much larger scale.
Christina Gezotis of the Westfield Babe Ruth Executive Committee said having the World Series in Westfield also means a wide array of volunteer opportunities for the community. The committee will need volunteers for concession stands, parking, security and traffic, she noted.
“There’s going to be many slots available, something for everybody. It’s going to be awesome,” Gezotis said. “They’re going to have an awesome time because it’s going to be an amazing event. The camaraderie and the community togetherness, it’s going to all come together and people are going to want to come back and volunteer more. I’ve been involved with volunteering for many years, and when something is run well, it’s so welcomed. It makes you want to help out more.”
The Babe Ruth World Series will run from Aug. 9 to 19, 2016.
“I just think this is a great opportunity and I wish I was going to be 14 next year,” Knapik said. “It’s a home run.”
To learn more about volunteering opportunities, visit www.westfieldbaberuth.com.