Babe Ruth 13’s leave for Virginia to compete in World Series.
By: Tim Falls
Most teams are done by now.
Most teams were done weeks ago.
It’s rare for a baseball team that started playing before July to still take the field late in August. The Hopewell 13-year-old Babe Ruth baseball players are a rare bunch.
Their success this season has helped Hopewell win tournament after tournament and kept their season going strong. All their efforts and achievements have carried Hopewell to the pinnacle of play in the Babe Ruth Baseball League.
The Hopewell 13-year-olds boarded a chartered bus yesterday (Wednesday) for a trip to Loudoun County, Virginia for the Babe Ruth 13-year-old World Series.
Hopewell is scheduled to open pool play in the World Series with a game against Youngstown, OH, the Ohio Valley Regional Champion, at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Friday).
"Who plays baseball in August?" asked Hopewell manager Jim Patnick. "It’s almost ridiculous."
Only the teams that have won a lot and beaten the best are still active and Hopewell’s one of those teams. Patnick said he’s been impressed by how the Hopewell community has gotten behind his team and have come out to "watch and root for a great bunch of young gentlemen."
Hopewell began their campaign for the World Series back on June 30 with a 20-1 victory over Trenton in the District One 13-year-old tournament. That display of their skill was only the beginning as Hopewell won the next 14 games. In most of those victories Hopewell had a sizable lead and in six Hopewell had a lead of 10 or more runs. Only two were decided by one run, Hopewell’s 9-8 victory over Nottingham in the District One Final, and a 6-5 win over Marlton in the Southern New Jersey Tournament.
On their way to the World Series, Hopewell won the District One championship, the Southern New Jersey State championship, and the Middle Atlantic Regional Championship.
Hopewell claimed the regional title for the first time on Aug. 7 after reaching the regional tournament the past four years. Prior to winning the regional title, Hopewell’s best finish had been a second-place finish in the Cal Ripken Regional Tournament as a 10-year-old team.
"It sunk in immediately," Patnick said of his players realizing the significance of winning the regional final. "They’ve been here before, so they knew what it meant to win the regional tournament."
With the regional win, Hopewell advanced to the World Series to take on winners from eight other regional tournaments and the host team from Loudoun County. While there, the players will stay with host families and take part in several World Series events along with the games.
A season so successful could be tough for parents. Hopewell fans have traveled to Washington Township in Gloucester County to see their team win the Southern New Jersey Championship. Those fans joined Hopewell in Medford in Burlington County to cheer on the 13-year-olds as they won the Middle Atlantic Regional Tournament. And now, those that can, will make their way to Virginia to see Hopewell compete in the World Series. Despite all the traveling that’s been required, Patnick said the team parents have been nothing but excited for Hopewell’s achievements.
"All 12 of the kids’ parents knew what the potential was," said Patnick, "and how far they could go."
After the team’s past performances, the parents were probably prepared for the chance that Hopewell would go all the way this season.
Along with playing the Ohio Valley Regional champion, Hopewell is scheduled to play Bryant, Arizona, the Southwest winner, Loudoun County, the host team, and West Fargo, North Dakota, the Midwest Plains Regional Champion.
The top three teams from both pools advance to the single elimination portion of the tournament. The second-ranked teams from one bracket play the third-ranked teams from the other pool for a chance to take on one of the top-seeded teams in the World Series Semifinals. The Babe Ruth 13-year-old World Series Championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. August 24.
"We’ve celebrated for the third time at Wildflowers after winning the regional tournament," said Patnick. "We went there after Districts, States and Regionals. We’ll be a little too far down in Virginia, we’ll have to plan on the day after."
Hopefully, Wildflowers will be ready for a party on the 25th.
NOTE: For updates on the team’s results visit the Hopewell Valley News online or check the link for the 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series at www.baberuthbaseball.org/world-series-locations.html.