With changes, Babe Ruth baseball gearing up for spring season

David Hough, a Babe Ruth coach who helps run the Hood River program — part of The Dalles Babe Ruth League that includes The Dalles, Sherman County, Goldendale, Lyle, and White Salmon — says that he expects an even bigger and better season this year, which is good for both the Hood River program and the league as a whole.

“Since bringing back the Babe Ruth program here in Hood River, we have seen growth in the two years back. We are seeing more and more kids who want to continue playing baseball after Little League,” he explained. “Hood River Babe Ruth is an option that gives kids a local option to play baseball. I have also seen growth in the league in general with Hood River back. Teams are all playing great baseball and each team wants to compete and win.”

‘Since bringing back the Babe Ruth program here in Hood River, we have seen growth in the two years back. We are seeing more and more kids who want to continue playing baseball after Little League.’

— DAVID HOUGH

According to Hough, the program grew from 11 athletes playing for one team in the 2014 season to drawing enough athletes to field two full teams in 2015. Hood River athletes saw success last season after a rocky start in 2014 and four players represented Hood River on the 13-year-old tournament team that won districts, state, and made it to the regional competition in Idaho last year.

One thing that is different this year in The Dalles League is that there will be a playoff series designed to crown a league champion. When that finishes up, the league board will then pick its tournament teams in each age group (13, 14, 15). This year Hough said Hood River Valley High School will be the host for the 15-year-old Babe Ruth state tournament July 14-16 and with two teams formed from The Dalles League players in that age group, “that means we could and should have a lot of players on those teams represent Hood River.”

Hough says that Hood River Baseball’s resurgence has been helped tremendously by local sponsors who keep supporting the program as it continues to grow.

“With great sponsors like Northwest Graphic Works, which has helped out since 2014 to get us back playing Babe Ruth in Hood River, and many others, it has been a blessing,” he said. “With the program growing, we are always looking for sponsors, as it helps our youth continue to have the opportunity to play baseball.”

The program is continuing to look for funding this season, as the home field for Hood River Babe Ruth, Collins Field, which is located across the street from Hood River Middle School, took “a beating this winter,” according to Hough. A tree crushed the batting cage and the winter winds have damaged the backstop net.

“We are now in the process of buying the new backstop net at over $600, but as for the batting cage, we don’t have the funding to fix it. For safety concerns, we have to have the backstop net fixed in order to play,” he explained. “We are always looking for sponsors to help us as we couldn’t play without community help, as we are a nonprofit organization.”

Sign-ups are happening now and fees to play this season are $100 until March 13, when a $25 late fee will be added. For those who have children interested in playing, and/or those interested in helping finance or sponsor the Hood River Babe Ruth baseball program, contact Hough at yzhough@yahoo.com or call him at 541-399-7045.