Hollister’s Veterans Memorial Park will be the host site for
three all-star tournaments this summer, including the 14-year-old
Central California State Tournament on July 16, San Benito Babe
Ruth President Stephen Ferranti said last week.
HOLLISTER
Hollister’s Veterans Memorial Park will be the host site for three all-star tournaments this summer, including the 14-year-old Central California State Tournament on July 16, San Benito Babe Ruth President Stephen Ferranti said last week.
Vets Park was awarded the state tournament by the Central California state committee after passing several criteria, one of which was providing adequate seating.
Vets Park is considered one of the nicer Babe Ruth facilities in the Central California region, and although it is normally the site of at least one state-qualifier tournament each year, it hasn’t hosted the state tournament since 2006.
In addition, Vets Park will also host both the 13- and 14-year-old Central California State Qualifier Tournaments, which kick off on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
“I’m sure the 14-year-olds are looking to stay home,” Ferranti said, noting that the San Benito 14-year-old All-Stars could play through the state tournament without ever leaving Hollister.
San Benito Babe Ruth paid a $1,000 fee to host the state tournament — the money generated through two different fundraisers over the course of this past season.
The league will look to make it all back through gate fees and concessions, though, as the state tournament consists of as many as 15 games stretching over six days.
“All we try to do is break even because it’s such a benefit for our kids to stay home and play,” Ferranti said.
On Friday, July 16, the day before the state tournament begins, the league will host a catered dinner for each team (the dinner is also open to the public who purchase a dinner ticket), and will conduct opening ceremonies in honor of Frank Cembellin, who is expected to be in attendance.
Cembellin, who resides in Brookings, Ore., is considered one of the two “Founding Fathers” of Babe Ruth baseball in San Benito County, and was recently inducted into the International Babe Ruth League Hall of Fame.
The league will also host a four-event skills competition on July 16, which will include a home run derby.
One day later, on July 17, four first-round games will be played among the eight district winners.
“We’ve never hosted three tournaments,” Ferranti said.
The 13-year-old Central California State Qualifier Tournament will begin on Thursday at Vets Park in Hollister, where San Benito will square off against Lodi at 8 p.m.
One day later, the 14-year-old Central California State Qualifier Tournament will open at Vets Park in Hollister, where San Benito will open against Tracy at 8 p.m.
The 15-year-old All-Stars, meanwhile, will be the only team forced to travel. San Benito will open on Thursday night in Lodi against Escalon at 8 p.m.
San Benito Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Stars
Amaral, Tony
Brann, Cameron
Breen, Andrew
Goodwin, Justin
Granger, Brandon
Haworth, Hunter
Hernandez, Tommy
Kelly, Garret
Moeller, Zackry
Rodriguez, Enrique
Rueda, Marcus
Telles, JoJo
Trujillo, Jacob
San Benito Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars
Acosta, Jorge
Arriola, Edgar
Asp, Cody
Cosio, Marco
Diaz, Tony
Frusetta, Patrick
Hawk, Matt
Hicks, Zachary
Matulich, Christopher
Perez, Marcos
Tobias, Brian
Tobias, Russell
Wahl, Austin
San Benito Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Stars
Beltran, Richie
Breen, Michael
Gutierrez, Carlos
Guzman, Jose
Hoskins, Dalan
Ito, Dylan
Munoz, Eddie
Pasillas, Angel
Patterson, Justin
Pina, Tyler
Rueda, Ray
Sanchez, Rudy
Shaw-Fuss, Skyler
Slibsager, Craig
Tonascia, Jacob
