FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2001

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Tom Enwright at (715) 424-3349 or (715) 422-6972l e-mail: wrysa@tznet.com

WRYSA TO HOST BABE RUTH REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS

Three Babe Ruth League baseball and softball regional tournaments are coming to Wisconsin Rapids this week. The Wisconsin Rapids Youth Sports Association (WRYSA) is hosting the 12-year-old Cal Ripken baseball tournament for the Ohio Valley Region, and the 14-under and 16-under softball tournaments for the Ohio Valley Region. All three tournaments are based on a double-elimination format.

The softball teams will arrive on Wednesday, July 25, with registration and a picnic supper at The Ridges. Games are scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at Robinson Park, with the 14-under teams on the north field and the 16-under teams on the south. Opening ceremonies are set for approximately 5 p.m. Thursday at Robinson South.

The baseball teams will arrive on Thursday, July 26, with registration and a picnic supper also at The Ridges. Games are scheduled for Friday through Wednesday, August 1, at Mead Field. Opening ceremonies are set for 3:30 p.m. Friday at Mead Field.

Admission will be charged at all fields. Prices are $2 per day per person or $25 per family for an all-tournament pass. A valid admission ticket or pass will be good for entry at any of the three tournament sites.

Teams expected for the baseball tournament are: Clinton Township, Mich.; Millville, Ohio; Kokomo, Ind. (representing Northern Indiana); Newburgh, Ind. (Southern Indiana); South Lexington, Ky. (East Kentucky); LaRue County, Hodgenville, Ky. (West Kentucky); Mattoon, Ill.; Cross Plains, Wis. (Wisconsin first-place team); Superior, Wis. (Wisconsin second-place team); and the host Wisconsin Rapids team. A second Wisconsin team was allowed in the tournament after West Virginia chose not to send a team. The host city automatically gets a berth in the tournament. WRYSA’s first game will be against Cross Plains at 7 p.m. Friday.

This is the first time a Babe Ruth regional baseball tournament has been held in Wisconsin.

Teams expected for the 14-under softball tournament are: Lexington Southwest (representing East Kentucky); Fern Creek, Ky. (West Kentucky); Merrionette Park, Ill.; Liberty Recreation (Northern Indiana); Hamilton, Ind. (Southern Indiana); Marinette, Wis.; and the host Wisconsin Rapids team. WRYSA’s first game will be against Southern Indiana at 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Teams expected for the 16-under softball tournament are: Merrionette Park, Ill.; Lexington Southeast (representing East Kentucky); Okalona, Ky. (West Kentucky); Liberty Recreation (Northern Indiana); Sheridan, Ind. (Southern Indiana); Superior, Wis.; and the host Wisconsin Rapids team. WRYSA’s first game will be against Northern Indiana at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The winner of the baseball regional will advance to the Cal Ripken World Series in Vincennes, Ind., August 18-26.

The winner of the 16-under softball regional will advance to the Babe Ruth 16-under Softball World Series in Abbeville, La., August 11-18. Babe Ruth doesn’t sponsor a 14-under softball World Series.

Local tournament directors are Kelly Rosekrans (baseball) and Jon Holberg (softball). Bill Lowe of Wisconsin Rapids is the Babe Ruth softball regional commissioner for the Ohio Valley.

Planning for the tournaments began last fall and involved representatives from the city of Wisconsin Rapids and the Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

One particular challenge was recovering from the extensive damage caused by a June 11 storm that blew down an estimated 100 trees in Robinson Park. A concession building and some fencing also were damaged. WRYSA wishes to thank the Wisconsin Rapids Park & Recreation Department and Georgia-Pacific Corp. for organizing the cleanup.

WRYSA has arranged for host families to house many of the players for the three tournaments, however, players’ families and coaches will be staying at area hotels and motels, thus providing an economic benefit to the area.

Game results will be posted on WRYSA’s Web site, www.tznet.com/wrysa and on the Babe Ruth tournament Web site, www.BRLworldseries.com.

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