When Tony Baker was coaching a couple teams in the Chehalis and Centralia area for the Twin Cities Babe Ruth league, there was a certain energy radiating from previous leadership.
“Past couple of years, presidents before us, they didn't put in quite enough effort for my expectation,” Baker admitted. “It kind of fell in my lap a little bit.”
Now as the President, Baker has been figuring out different ways to incorporate some events that can accomplish two objectives.
One, fundraise for the local teams and two, generate renewed interest in Babe Ruth leagues.
Saturday’s first annual home run derby checked those boxes.
A total of 45 kids between the ages of 10 and 15 showed out at Stan Hedwall Park in Chehalis to launch some balls over makeshift fences. It was an event that was first planned about three months ago.
“I was trying to think how to bring money into the league,” Baker said. “It just hit me. I watch a lot of little league (baseball) and they do that kind of stuff. No one has had a home run derby here in a long time.”
Ages 10-11 had to hit it over 110 feet, 12-13 were 160 feet and 14-15 had to clear 200 feet. Thirty-five of the 45 participants RSVP’d prior to the start of the event.
All three age divisions were in the double digits of hitters.
“I liked how the pitching was right down the middle,” Liam Ainsworth said. “It can help Babe Ruth leagues to see where you’re at to keep competing.”
Ainsworth, who plays baseball in the Olympia area, heard about the derby via Facebook. He was the first hitter who took cuts in the 14-15 age group and finished with 17 home runs.
That ended up sticking has the best mark. Two other hitters ended at 16 and ran out of time before a potential tying home run could happen.
“I was definitely surprised,” Ainsworth said. “A little bit scared, but it was good.”
Ryker Hansen ended with the most home runs out of the players with 21 to triumph in the 12-13 group. He had a goal of 20 in mind when he entered the event.
Hansen, who plays out in Toledo, was in the middle of the order and surpassed the number to beat 16 near the one-minute warning.
“I thought I could have it,” Hansen said.
In the 10-11 division, Dayton Lusk launched 20 home runs and well over half of them went over the fence made for the ages ahead of him.
The southpaw was one of the few in his group that went into double figures.
“I was just here to have fun,” Lusk said.
Baker wants to make this a yearly event. He received plenty of support from parents and featured a good turnout on Saturday.
More importantly, he wants this to serve as a reminder that there is talent in the Babe Ruth league.
“I got some positive feedback, we started to get a little more attention,” Baker said. “Just being able to provide that outlet.”
Lusk, Hansen and Ainsworth all stated they enjoyed the event and want to see it continue and grow. That trifecta, like Baker, want to see Babe Ruth teams receive added exposure.
“There are a lot of people who are really good, bring more attention to select teams,” Hansen said. “This (event) will grow a lot. It has a lot of potential.”
