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QUINCY BABE RUTH WORLD SERIES AUGUST 16 - AUGUST 23, 2008 Published January 15, 2009 09:23 pm - Babe Ruth team left lasting impression By Cody Pastorella The Port Arthur News Hurricane Ike certainly left many parts of Southeast Texas in horrible shape. The Nederland 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth baseball park was no different. But Ike was just the last of the many storms dating back to Hurricane Rita in 2005 that have caused considerable damages to Bob Harmon Park. From fences, to lights, to dugouts, to backstops, Rita, Ike, Gustav, and even a random tornado in an April storm during the spring of 2007 have added up to leaving the park with thousands of dollars in damages. This story is not about the park, however, but about the Nederland 14-year-old all-star team that traveled to Quincy, Mass. for the World Series this past summer. The boys on that team made such an impression on their host parents and other Quincy locals that the Babe Ruth league there did some fund raising and donated $2,500 to Nederland's league, which supports kids from all over Jefferson County. This particular all-star team was made up of six kids from Port Neches-Groves, seven from Nederland and two from Beaumont. The group included Trent Fontenot, Hunter Knox, Daniel Sparrow, Corbin Carr, Jordan Wood, Gerran Freeman, David Conley, Trey Broussard, Kohl Lasell, Justin Ridgaway, Daniel Atterberry, Ryan Quinn, Jacob Pitts, Brett Brown and Stephen Schlett. Manager Steven Pitts said he and the other coaches and parents were constantly told how great their kids were on and off the field. Richard Atterberry, father of Daniel and longtime board member in youth football and baseball in Nederland, said those compliments came with the utmost level of sincerity. "It was not like the other teams’ coaches and the board members and parents there were saying that about all the kids," Atterberry said. "That's why I am such an advocate of Babe Ruth and these tournaments. It really gives the kids, and parents really, opportunities to get involved with what starts out as strangers and builds friendships with people across the country." Atterberry said the Nederland group hit it off with their host parents so well that the Quincy coaches arranged transportation for Nederland's team to take a tour at Fenway Park. The team met Babe Ruth's daughter. They finished the World Series in third place with a 12-2 record for the summer. The squad scored 141 runs in that 14-game span through July and August, while giving up just 33 runs to their opponents. At the WS, which lasted 11 days, Stephen Schlett, who made the All World Series team, batted a .422, had an on base percentage of .526, drove in 19 runs and scored another 16. Meanwhile, Jacob Pitts was named to the all defensive team. He hit for a .383 average, scored 13 runs and finished the tournament with 1.000 fielding percentage, the highest of any player at the WS. But of all the accomplishments that came from that summer of baseball, Steven Pitts said it was the compliments he received on the team's behalf that made the trip so special. "It's nice to hear that your kids are behaving like they are supposed to, but it means even more when you see they are doing it and you hear they made the kind of impression they made on the people there. That's what's really special to me. “Yeah, we won a lot of ball games and scored a lot of runs, but the way the kids handled themselves is what made that summer so great," Pitts said. Of the many stories and testimonials the parents came home from Quincy with, the one that stood out the most to Atterberry and Pitts were actions by Brett Brown after the team received their third-place trophies. Brown gave his trophy to a young boy, who was born with disabilites and confined to a wheelchair. The boy, who was a son of one of the Quincy parents, had gone to all of Nederland's games and was almost like the team's batboy according to Atteberry Brown, who was already in the running for the World Series sportsmanship award, gave his own trophy to the batboy because he thought the boy was not going to get one. Not knowing anyone was watching, Brown told the kid he could have his. But people were watching and Brown was given the sportsmanship award based on that act of kindness. It was just the sort of thing that made a lasting impression for the baseball families in Quincy. The kind of impression that motivated them to get involved with Nederland's damaged ball park after Ike hit. With the funds donated by Quincy and others, Atterberry said Nederland is hoping to host the regional tournament this summer. He said if enough money is donated and enough work is done, they will be able to host at Bob Harmon Park rather than taking the tournament to another location. OUR NUMBER ONE FAN AUSTIN TENNISON ![]()
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When the World Series in ongoing THIS site will get updated (I hope) very late at night Eastern Time.I also run the food court. There will NOT be any radio or internet feed from Adams Field. THANK YOU for your patience, an we are sorry for any inconvenience.
For complete updates check out The Official Babe Ruth League Web Site OR you can go to The Patriot Ledger website, That link is at the bootom left handside of the page.
Adams Field Facts. The Quincy Babe Ruth league plays on historic Adams Field.
It was originally built in 1937-1938, by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's, W.P.A.
The ball field was built on land donated to the City of Quincy,in 1885, by Charles Francis Adams II. He was the grandson of President John Quincy Adams (6th President), and the great-grandson of President John Adams (2nd President). The field was part of a larger gift of 80 acres, known as Merrymount Park. The dimensions of the field are: The 3rd base dugout is named for Mr. Raymond C. Cattaneo. In honor of his longtime commitment to American Legion baseball and the youth of Quincy, for over 41 years. The improvements to Adams Field are a new concession stand/press box, a totally reconstructed infield, new lights, landscaping, fences and dug outs. The concession stand/press box was built by the South Shore Building tradesmen, bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters, and electricians. These fine men and women donated their time to build this beautiful building. The four retired numbers in right field are for deceased players, that have played
Liitle League, Babe Ruth and Legion Baseball in the City Of Quincy.
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