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 News 2005: Boston Globe West Article |
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Thursday, July 7
Boston Globe West Article
Head of wood-bat league enjoys its more relaxed feel
By James Whitters, Globe Staff
He has watched his league shrink from 13 teams to 12. He has waved goodbye as some of his best players have moved on to American Legion ball. But Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth president Skip Walsh isn't worried.
As he prepares for Sunday's annual All-Star game at Bowditch Field in Framingham, Walsh insists his high school summer league is as healthy as ever.
''Every year, we have some people graduate out and move on; that's just the way it is," Walsh said. ''But overall, the league is very competitive. We have a couple of teams that are a lot stronger than ever before. It's a strong area for baseball. I think the league reflects that."
Despite losing Millis as a franchise this summer because of field problems and low player turnout, Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth remains a unique fixture on the local summer baseball scene.
The league, founded in 1990 as a developmental league for 14-18 year-old players who are too old for Little League and too raw for American Legion, has teams from Ashland, Bellingham, Dover-Sherborn, Franklin, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Marlborough, Milford, Natick, Sudbury, and Westborough.
While it bears the Senior Babe Ruth name, the league operates independent of the national Senior Babe Ruth organization, running on its own schedule with its own rules and playoff structure.
Walsh believes Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth's autonomy is the main reason his league enjoys a more relaxed feel than many of the other Legion and AAU leagues in the area.
''We're interested in developing players, that's the overall intent of the league," said Walsh, who manages the Westborough team and works as the Senior Director for Product Assurance Engineering at 3Com in Marlborough. ''We've always had a lot of good kids and good players. We provide another option. We're a more flexible and a little less rigid league."
Wood bats are another unique aspect of Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth baseball. The league switched to wood three years ago when high school leagues began experimenting with alternatives to aluminum.
While the Tri-Valley League and others in the area have returned to metal bats, Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth officials voted last winter to continue to use wood, making it one of the few remaining high school wood bat summer leagues in New England.
''Wood brings a different aspect into the game," Walsh said. ''You get to make more plays in the field. You don't have those big innings and there aren't as many long balls. It brings more strategy into the game."
Walsh admits he was disappointed to see Millis, a new team in 2004, fold after just one year in the league. But he said he's encouraged by the improved play of a number of clubs.
Hopkinton, a 5-13 team last year, was 7-1 last week after an impressive 4-3 victory over defending champion Sudbury (4-1-1).
Holliston and Marlborough are also in the playoff hunt after going a combined 11-24 last summer.
''It's good to see some new teams coming up," said Walsh, whose Westborough Scorpions were 2-5 after a 3-2 win over Ashland (3-5) last week.
''Teams have the tendency to get into troughs. It can be difficult to get out," he added. ''It's nice to see that we're sharing the wealth."
The best players from Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth will be on display at Sunday's All-Star game in Framingham. Walsh can't wait. He sees it as another opportunity to show off one of the most unique summer leagues in the state.
''Everyone bats, we play a whole bunch of innings, and everyone has a good time," Walsh said. ''It's a fun night. It's great to see these kids get a chance to represent their towns and have an opportunity to compete as friends and teammates instead of rivals."
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