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 todays 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, completive 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 completive baseball there is not a better opportunity that exist than the Babe Ruth League.

Terry Weinheimer. PHBR webmaster

PHBR Kidsports team played in 2010 State Junior Baseball Organization Championship

Congratulations to the Pleasant Hill Running Billies and the South Eugene Axemen two of Lane County, Oregon’s best youth baseball teams. Both of these teams played Spring baseball in the Willamette Valley Babe Ruth – Cal Ripken Baseball League and Summer baseball with Kidsports.

As part of the Kidsports program Pleasant Hill and South Eugene were selected through playoffs to compete in the JBO State Championship Tournament where they played in the Junior Baseball Organization Midget division for age 10 and under.

July 15th – 18th the State Championship was held at North Clackamas Park near Portland, Oregon. What a great experience this was for these young baseball players to compete against the best teams in the state of Oregon.

Win or lose a team that has been chosen to play for the JBO State Championship has already proven by their selection that they are among Oregon’s best baseball players in their age group.

The State Championship is a memorable experience for these youngsters. Traveling as a team to play in the tournament, the camaraderie among the players and a few harmless pranks seemed to add to the fun of the players. Swimming in the motel pool during breaks may not seem big to many but was a real treat for our kids for in the Pleasant Hill area swimming pools are few and far between.

While neither Pleasant Hill or South Eugene took the 2010 state championship, Lane County, Oregon can be proud of these two fine teams.

While 2011 may seem far away, Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth Baseball encourages youth baseball players in our area to participate when our next Spring baseball season rolls around.

PHBR 14U 3rd Place Champions in Bobby Doerr Classic

June 19-20, 2010 a team composed of players from the Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth 13 and 14 teams played in the Bobby Doerr Baseball Classic.

The team faced a challenging lineup over the 2 day tournament. While they may not have placed 1st they can certainly be proud of their 3rd Place Championship in the 14U division. 1st place went to Oregon Select and 2nd Place Willamette Valley Prep 13 All-Stars.

Pleasant Hill families are proud of our youth baseball players and coaches. All of you are doing a great job. We look forward to following you players as you continue in Babe Ruth or move into High School baseball.

Proud PHBR Players in Bobb Doerr Classic

photos by Laura Williamson  More Photos Click Here

PHBR AAA Gold 2nd place winners in 2010 Oakland Tournament

Pictured Front Row: Bryson McDonald, Justin Oljace. Middle Row: Chase Olson, Clay Weiss, Davyd Kirkhart, Kyle Bowen, Hayden Kuhnhausen, William Downs. Back Row: Preston White, Lane Hardy, Charlie Updegrave, Zach VanLoon. Coaches Dustin White, Tim Bowen and Brian McDonald

Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth AAA Team Gold has had a busy and rewarding year playing Babe Ruth – Cal Ripken baseball as have the other PHBR teams.

June 19-20, 2010 Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth AAA  Team  Gold(+/- a few players from other PHBR teams) placed 2nd in the 12U division at the Oakland, Oregon Tournament.

The Oakland Tournament was a Majors Tournament with most of the baseball players age 11-12. The Pleasant Hill players were age 9-11. Great job boys!

Thanks to the dedication of the PHBR players and coaches we have seen the youth baseball program and players getting better and better each year.

There is no doubt that 1st place championships await our PHBR players. Pleasant Hill fans and families will be following our players the remainder of this year and next year.

Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth serves the areas of Oakridge, Creswell, Lowell, Cottage Grove, Dexter, Jasper, Pleasant Hill and surrounding areas. We have some very talented athletes in this area and some great coaches.

Congratulation players and coaches for the great job you have done and continue to do. We look forward to seeing you at the Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth – Cal Ripken Spring Baseball sign-ups in 2011 or before.

Happy AAA Gold players after 2nd place win in 2010 Oakland Tournament

Pictured: Coach Dustin White, with Pleasant Hill students Chase Olson, Bryson McDonald, Lane Hardy, Clay Weiss, Justin Oljace

photos by Denise Renee Olson
Martha Hardy, team reporter

The Pleasant Hill Running Billies played 6 hard fought games during this tournament losing one game by a single score. On Saturday the Pleasant Hill Running Billies won games against the Cascade Cougars, Eugene Crushers and the Springfield Millers (Hoffman).

The Pleasant Hill Running Billies started off Sunday morning with a 3-0 record and won against the Thurston Colts XL. In the afternoon PHBR lost to the JC Red Sox resulting in a Game for 3rd or 4th against Sheldon Irish LL who had lost against the WVBR All-Stars.

At the bottom of the 4th the Billies were down 8-1. Like the team that they are they pulled themselves back together and fought like Marines using every technique they had practiced so hard and kept their head in the game.

10u Bobby Doerr Classic 3rd place winners from Pleasant Hill

In the next two innings the Running Billies scored 10 runs and in the bottom of the 6th the Pleasant Hill Running Billies won against the Sheldon taking 3rd place in the 10 and under Gold Division with Sheldon Irish taking 4th.

The Pleasant Hill Running Billies team players starting with the front row left to right: Seth Hensley-Weinheimer, Collin Good, Dylan Miller, Brady lane. Second row: Torey Gage-Tomlinson, Tanner Maryanski, Brandon Good, Preston Paparo, Colton Baker, Tyler Cook and Kaleb Miller. The coaches left to right: Kirk Miller, Forest Tomlinson, Chad Good and Leigh Baker.

10U Gold
1st place – Willamette Valley 10U All-Star A
2nd Place – JC Red Sox
3rd Place – Pleasant Hill Running Billies

10U Silver
1st Place – Willamette AAA
2nd Place – Creswell (This team had several PHBR players on it.)
3rd Place – Springfield Millers (Deller)

Speaking for Pleasant Hill coaches and families we are certainly proud of our Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth youth baseball players. In this tournament the Running Billies demonstrated to all of us if you keep on going when things get tough you are a winner.

Terry Weinheimer, team reporter

At the opening ceremonies a United States Color Guard presents the flags of the United States flag and the Marine Corps flag. The Color Guard is flanked by two Marine rifle-bearers. This opening ceremony shows honor to our country and those that have died to preserve our freedoms.

Born April 7,1918 in Los Angeles, California Bobby Doerr played his entire 14 year major league career for the Boston Red Sox. Later he became a scout and a coach for the Boston Red Sox.

The Bobby Doerr Classic has 3 divisions – 10 and under, 12 and under, and 14 and under. This year Pleasant Hill baseball players played in three 10 and under teams including the Pleasant Hill Running Billies, Pleasant Hill Rookie Major, and Creswell Warrior’s which had a number of players on their team that play PHBR during the season. Pleasant Hill also had one team in each the 12 and under and 14 and under.

US Marine Color Guard - 2010 Bobby Doerr Classic

What a fun and exciting weekend the Bobby Doerr Classic is and thank you Mr. Doerr for taking the time to come out and make this such a memorable event not only for the Pleasant Hill baseball players but for all baseball players, coaches and families that participate in this event.

Photos for your enjoyment

See Photographs of game

Saturday was to be a long day for most of AAA Team Navy for 8 of the players along with players from AAA Gold and Pleasant Hill AA  Babe Ruth teams had formed a team to play in the annual Willamette Tournament in Eugene, Oregon.

Immediately following the Navy – Gold game the team left for Eugene where upon arrival they played  in two more back to back games.

Team meeting following 2nd place win in Willamette Tournament

On Saturday the team composed of Colton Baker, Dylan Miller, Tyler Cook, Kaleb Miller,  Seth Hensley-Weinheimer, Tanner Maryanski, Preston Paparo, Torrey Gage Tomlinson,  Brady Lane, and Braedon Putman took on and won against both Springfield and Cascade. Coaches for the games were Forest Tomlinson, Lee Baker and Kirk Miller.

On Sunday the team won against South Eugene and played Willamette to determine the tournament winner. While Willamette took first place and Pleasant Hill second, the parents and fans could not be prouder of Pleasant Hill. Pleasant Hill had pulled off 5 straight wins in 3 days. Tuesday evening June 8th a well prepared Team Navy will play their first game in the Willamette Valley Babe Ruth Playoffs and it is understood that their first challenge will be Willamette so this should be an exciting game. Congratulations on a Great Season Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth and Babe Ruth Cal Ripken.

Oregon Ducks

Youth Day Camp (Babe Ruth Complex) July 5-8
Players who will be in enrolled in grades 2-6 in the 2010-2011 school year.
Youth Day/Overnight Camp (PK Park) July 19-22
Players who will be in enrolled in grades 2-8 in the 2010-2011 school year.
High School Prospect Camp August 2-4
Players who will be enrolled in grades 9-12 in the 2010-2011 school year.

Oregon Beavers

Grand Slam 2010 Summer Camps

Willamette Valley Baseball Academy

Oh sure I have enjoyed watching my grandsons baseball skill and knowledge increase during these past 6 years and yet when I look back on his T-ball days I have so many memories that still put a smile on this old face.

What we so often overlook when thinking about T-ball or older youth teams are the coaches. Dedicated coaches such as T-Ball Navy coach Jason Barber seen in the photograph above. These coaches put hours of time and countless patients into teaching baseball and team participation skills to our youth.

The next time you are at a baseball practice or game or at the super market and see one of our Babe Ruth or Cal Ripken coaches take a minute to say thank you. Just think of what baseball would be like if we did not have these dedicated coaches to teach our sons and daughters the game of baseball.

Terry Weinheimer, PHBR webmaser

Photo by Courtney Dills and Tara Kelly, PHBR T-Ball Navy team reporters.