For the week of May 7 - 13, 2003

Changes in store for senior baseball

Wood bats, draft

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Big changes are in store for the Blaine County Title Men’s Baseball League, which is entering its eighth season of providing summer hardball.

Wooden bats will be used more frequently and games will be played at Atkinson Park in Ketchum during the first part of the season. Plus, a league-wide draft will form teams.

There are two reasons for the major changes, league commissioner Curtis Bacca said Monday.

First of all, Founders Field in Hailey is increasingly needed by Wood River American Legion and Babe Ruth youth baseball during the first seven weeks of the season.

Secondly, the league’s competitive balance has unfairly favored a couple of teams—the Snappers and Cobras—that have been together without major changes for many years, Bacca said.

"We will conducting a draft from scratch this season," he said. "This will keep the competitive balance close and all the games interesting."

Bacca said he was informed in March by the controlling parties of Founders Field—where the league has always played its games—that Founders wouldn’t be available for the league until late July.

Disappointed, he said he was faced with two choices—cancel the season or start the league July 25, six to eight weeks later than normal.

He asked if the valley’s other full-size hardball field could be used.

"I contacted Atkinson Park to see if there were times available to play," Bacca said. "I was able to secure Friday nights and Saturday mornings." That caused its own problems.

Bacca added, "The only problem playing at 5,800 feet elevation with a short fence and dirt infield is that balls would be flying out of the park and murdering guys on the infield."

Using wood or composite bats instead of aluminum bats solved the problem. "We’ll play games at Atkinson Park with wood bats," he said.

Plans call for four teams playing 12 games, six with wood bats and six with aluminum. Games will be played at Atkinson Park Friday nights and Saturday mornings from June 13-July 26, then at Founders on Tuesday evenings, Friday nights and Saturday mornings from July 29-Aug. 23.

All payments ($185 per player) are due by May 24 and the draft will be conducted June 1. The league is limited to the first 60 paid players. You won’t get in the draft unless you’ve paid your fee, Bacca said.

Sign up with Josh at Twist & Trout, 560 Washington St., Ketchum, 726-1021. And return your jersey from last year when you sign up.

 

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