Wood River Babe Ruth (ages 13-14) baseball teams will debut their 2007 Jerome League seasons with home doubleheeaders Saturday, May 5 at O'Donnell Field in Bellevue.
The Wood River Americans coached by Ted Israel and Tracey Farrow have an 11-game schedule that lasts through June 2. The Wood River Nationals coached by Layne Jensen, Poncho Cortez, Jim Siegel and Rick Hesselbacher will play 12 games.
Both teams finished their spring training last Saturday at a Twin Falls jamboree also attended by squads from Buhl, Filer, Jerome and Twin Falls.
The WR Americans won their games 9-2 over Twin Falls and 12-2 over Jerome. Among the local stalwarts were Nathan Farrow, Collin Dean, Zach Israel, Jake Freeman, Alex Thomas and Connor Braatz.
Rounding out the Americans' roster are Andrew Orr, Jimmy Williams, Scott Beaver and Jesse Souligny.
Coach Israel said, "We had great pitching and hitting. Our defense held and we played well as a team. What more could you ask for?"
Also posting a 2-0 record at the jamboree were the WR Nationals. They rallied for a 12-2 victory over Filer and broke open a close game with Jerome for a 3-2 win when Connor Hesselbacher doubled and stole home on a passed ball.
Other Nationals stars at Twin Falls were Tazmin Lyons, Kevin Jensen, Mason Kluge and Tanner Sanders. The team also features John Siegel, Alex Padilla, Colton Jones, Brandon Beall and Walker Royston.
Here are season schedules:
WR Americans: Saturday, May 5, home at O'Donnell vs. Buhl 13s at 10 a.m. and home vs. Buhl 14s at 3 p.m.; Monday, May 7, vs. Dietrich at Jerome Rotary Park at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 10, home at O'Donnell vs. WR Nationals at 6:30 p.m.; and Monday, May 14, vs. American Family at 6:30 p.m. at Jerome's JV field;
Saturday, May 19, vs. Milliken (Twin Falls) at 9 a.m. and vs. Stewart at 1 p.m. at Jerome's JV field; Wednesday, May 23, home at Founders Field in Hailey vs. American Family at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, May 29, home at O'Donnell vs. WR Nationals at 6:30 p.m.; and Saturday, June 2, home at O'Donnell vs. Dietrich Cattle at 10 a.m. and vs. American Family at 3 p.m.
WR Nationals: Saturday, May 5, home at O'Donnell vs. Buhl 13s at 12:30 p.m. and home vs. Buhl 14s at 5:30 p.m.; Monday, May 7, vs. American Family at Jerome's JV field at 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 10, home at O'Donnell vs. WR Americans at 6:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, May 16, vs. Buhl at Buhl at 6:30 p.m.;
Saturday, May 19, vs. Stellingwerf at 11 a.m. and vs. Filer at 3 p.m. at Jerome's JV field; Wednesday, May 23, home at O'Donnell vs. Dietrich Cattle at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, May 29, home at O'Donnell vs. WR Americans at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 2, home at O'Donnell vs. Dietrich Cattle at 12:30 p.m. and vs. American Family at 5:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, June 5, vs. Dietrich Cattle at Jerome's JV field at 6:30 p.m.
