Three days of outstanding youth baseball took place at the Pacific Northwest Regional Cal Ripken Championship held in Eugene, Oregon. July 29th to July 31st, 2010 found the Babe Ruth Complex buzzing with teams. players, family and fans from all over Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and as far away as British Columbia.
Pleasant Hill and other greater Eugene area youth baseball players and families that were unable to attend missed a great event. I felt really lucky to be at today’s game with Forest Tomlinson, his son Torrey and my grandson Seth, two Pleasant Hill players that want to try out for a WVBR All-Star team in 2011. There could not have been a better opportunity for these boys to observe up close what it would be like to play as an All-Star.
Yes, these games were the action packed, competitive games that you would expect at such an event! Yes, the umpires had highly emotional fans and coaches to deal with at times. Getting past the emotions these games were real nail biters as you watched some of the best 11 and 12 year old baseball players and teams from the Pacific Northwest compete for the title of Cal Ripken Pacific Northwest Regional Champion.
WVBR 11u All-Stars receiving 1st place metals at NW Regional Championships
After coming from behind in a game against the Langley All-Stars of British Columbia the 11 year old Willamette Valley All-Stars pulled off a win and went on to beat another great team the Black Hills All-Stars of Southern Washington. The Championship title was won by WVBR in an 11-9 game.
WVBR 11u All-Stars 2010 Pacific NW Regional Champions Cal Ripken
In a neighboring field at the complex the 12 year Willamette Valley All-Star team did Southern Oregon proud as they took on the West Linn All-Stars of Northern Oregon. The Championship was decided by a tight 5-3 game.
Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth – Cal Ripken can be proud to be part of Willamette Valley Babe Ruth. WVBR is one of the finest Babe Ruth Leagues in the nation. For youth of the Lane County area that want to play competitive baseball there is not a better opportunity that exist than the Babe Ruth League.
Terry Weinheimer. PHBR webmaster
Hey folks I failed to mention that the10-year old WVBR Babe Ruth All-Stars won the semifinals in Lewiston, Montana beating Wes Linn and Black Hill and they will be in the World Series in Ocala, Florida.
The 12 year old All Stars will be in the Cal Ripken World series in Aberdeen, Maryland. But to the best of my knowledge there is not a World Series or National playoff for the 11 year olds.