Western North Carolina Babe Ruth League

Welcome to the official WNC Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken website! We work hard to give you the information and help you and your league need so we can provide the best youth baseball experience for our players. We'll work hard for you but we need your help to keep our website content up to date. Information is key for all of us, so keep us informed with your local league and district info and we'll do our best to keep our site updated for everyone. We have a lot of information available to you: Regional, state and district maps, league forms, sample league documents, rule changes and rule clarifications, WNC staff contact list, WNC District contact info, 2008 summer tournament dates, blank schedules, blank tournament brackets, WNC calendar of events and more!

WNC NEWS!

WNC congratulates MARA (Matthews Athletic Rec. Assoc.) as the 1st Bambino Buddy-Ball program in western N.C. The Bambino Buddy-Ball Division allows our challenged or special needs athletes to develop confidence and positive self-esteem. It allows them to be part of organized sports and assists with physical fitness as well as their social skills. The joy and emotion you experience when you put that first baseball uniform or cap on a challenged child’s head is like no other. As you can see, the Bambino Buddy-Ball Division is an emotionally rewarding experience for everyone as it also allows the “buddies” to feel good about helping their challenged friends, while at the same time making it a fun and memorable time for all.

2008 Cal Ripken / Babe Ruth League information packet "Where the Player Comes First!" click here to view (adobe PDF 1.45meg)
Coaches Certification Program - It is mandatory that all coaches complete the certification course for 2008. Click here to go to Babe Ruth League's official Coaches Certification website.
70ft. bases & 50ft. pitching distance option for Majors - Majors all star tournament trail will have the option of playing with extended bases & mound, runners leading off bases & pitcher balks. Some leagues that have experimented with this program have been very pleased with the aid in transition to the "big field" when players move up to 13yr old Babe Ruth baseball.
BALKS, Taking Base Leads & Pitcher Pick Off Moves DVD - now available. 54 minutes of great instruction. Did you know there are 13 ways a pitcher can commit a balk? Our DVD demonstrates and explains each. Our base running expert shows you lots of tips on reading pitchers, taking a lead from each base, getting back to the base safely and much more. Our expert pitching instructor demonstrates and explains how to disengage from the pitcher's plate to pick to each base. Right and left hand pitcher demonstration. This DVD is a must for coaches, UMPIRES and players moving up to the next level! $14.95 +s&h. ORDER TODAY! MORE INFO

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WNC State Commissioner, Tom Steele, shakes hands with Matthews mayor, Lee Myers during Matthews, NC town meeting as Matthews Athletic Rec. Association announces they will host 12yr old 50/70 SE Regional Tournament in July Support from the community will help make this a great tournament for our regional competitors.

Western NC Babe Ruth Baseball:

We are an active and supportive partner with Babe Ruth League, Inc. and all their programs and a member of the Southeast Region of Babe Ruth League, Inc.
We work very hard to provide organized and fun recreational Baseball for WNC youth ages 4-18. Divisions include: Cal Ripken League, ages 4-12, Babe Ruth League, ages 13-15 & Senior Babe Ruth, ages 16-18.
We also support and work with WNC Babe Ruth Baseball Umpire Association and sponsor WNC Babe Ruth Baseball Umpire Clinics.
We provide Invitational Tournaments for age 7-15, with open invitations to all Rec. Leagues.
Through Babe Ruth League Inc. we provide Tournament Trails for League All-Star Teams ages 8-U, 9-U, 10-U, 11-U, 12-U, 13, 13-14, 13-15, 15-16, and 16-18. All chartered leagues are eligible to participate starting at the Area Level.
WNC State Champions advance to Southeast Regional Tournaments. There is a World Series for SE Regional Champions in ages 10-U, 12-U, 13, 13-14, 13-15, 15-16, and 16-18. We manage a Travel fund with participation from all Leagues.
Local Leagues serve as host for Area Tournaments. Local Leagues serve as host for State Tournaments on a rotation basis.
We manage and maintain an informative website and provide a League President's Handbook in CD-ROM format..
From the state commissioner's office to District Commissioner's and local League Presidents we are volunteers ready to assist your League. District commissioners are elected by the local leagues.

Western NC Babe Ruth Softball

We are an active and supportive partner with Babe Ruth League, Inc. and all their programs and a member of the Southeast Region of Babe Ruth League, Inc.
We work very hard to provide organized and fun recreational Softball for WNC.
Through Babe Ruth League Inc. we provide Tournament Trails for League All-Star Teams. All chartered leagues are eligible to participate starting at the Area Level.
WNC State Champions advance to Southeast Regional Tournaments.
Local Leagues serve as host for Area Tournaments. Local Leagues serve as host for State Tournaments on a rotation basis.
From the state commissioner's office to District Commissioner's and local League Presidents we are volunteers ready to assist your League. District commissioners are elected by the local leagues.

2008 Age Determination Chart

A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success. –Anonymous

The Official Rules of Baseball (from MLB.com)

Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth Southeast Region website

Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth National website

WNC Cal Ripken / Babe Ruth District Boundaries

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United States Cal Ripken / Babe Ruth Regions

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WNC State Commissioner, Tom Steele, shakes hands with Matthews mayor, Lee Myers while Matthews Athletic Rec. Association announces they will host 12yr old 50/70 SE Regional Tournament in July during Matthews, NC town meeting. Support from the community will help make this a great tournament for our regional competitors.

Summer All Star Tournament results!

2007 Cal Ripken (ages 7-12) Area & State Tournament winners

2007 Babe Ruth (ages 13-18) Area & State Tournament winners

Coaches Certification Program

For the 2007 season, the Coaches Certification Program will be offered as an option to introduce our leagues to this superb training curriculum. A Coaches Certification Program will be required for all Cal Ripken Baseball, Babe Ruth Baseball and Babe Ruth Softball managers and coaches beginning with the 2008 season. This course is totally self instructional, self paced and is offered online for convenience. The cost is merely $19.95, and the certification is good for three years.

As always, we greatly appreciate all the time you devote for the benefit of our young athletes. Because of your input, it is our ongoing goal to make sure that the Babe Ruth League program continues to be your program. Thank you for helping to make Babe Ruth League, Inc. the premier baseball and softball program it is today.

Steven Tellefsen
President/CEO
Babe Ruth League, Inc.

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