PRESS RELEASE
Clifton Park Host Team Announced

CLIFTON PARK - It has been months in the making.  Baseball players have been training, competing and some dreaming of taking center stage in front of thousands of fans from across the nation.

It's official the 2006 Clifton Park 13- to 15-year-old Babe Ruth World Series Host team has been named.

Clifton Park will host the 2006 13-15-year old Babe Ruth World Series Aug. 18-25 with 10 teams competing for the opportunity to earn the title of World Champion. 
Teams earn their way to Clifton Park through district, state and regional competition before coming to the Clifton Common's new main field.

The 15 Clifton Park host team players are: Travis Belleard, Joey Breda, Jeff Carter, Dylan Cramer, Grant Cunningham, Tyler Dehmer, Kyle Hendrickson, Josh Lewyckyj, Brian Marotta, Paul Quigley, Nick Rainville, Andrew Sisson, Brian Trainor, Michael Williams and Steven Wilock. 

"I think this team will have very strong pitching and be strong defensively," Clifton Park host baseball manager Bruce Cramer said. "I don't think teams will produce a tremendous amount of offense against us. I think we're going to win games with consistent pitching and tremendous defense."

Players selected are from the Clifton Park recreation league with some also competing at the high school level for the Plainsmen.

This is the fourth time Clifton Park has hosted a Babe Ruth World Series and the first time it will host what Babe Ruth Baseball, Inc. calls its "gem." 

The 13-15 Babe Ruth World Series represents one of the highest talent levels to take the field in youth baseball, with players who have matured and adapted to competing on a full-size baseball diamond and outfield. The physical abilities of the players is also on the rise, with dominating young pitchers, batters able to hit the ball for home runs and quickness on the base paths and in the outfield.

"Rarely have I ever sat a kid an entire game," Cramer said. "If they have the strength to make the team, you can find a way to use them. They all have something to offer."
The event kicks off Aug. 17 with the Picnic of Champions on Clifton Common with special guest Rich “Goose” Gossage, a Giffy’s B-B-Q and the Burners UK playing from 7 to 10 p.m.

Play begins Aug. 18 with five days of pool play for the 10 teams beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern New York State Champion, South Colonie will face the Southwest Champion at 4 p.m. and Clifton Park will take on the Southeast Regional Champion at 7 p.m.

Picnic of Champion tickets are $20.
Family passes are available for $50 which includes admission for two adults and two children under 12-years-old to all 25 contests. Adult daily passes are $5 and daily child passes are $3.
Tickets are available through the World Series Ticket Hotline at 701-9524.

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