THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608170237
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 68 lines
After more than two years of planning, the 1996 Babe Ruth World Series for 16-18 year-olds begins this afternoon after a 10:30 a.m. parade through this Roanoke Island community, and opening ceremonies at 12:30 p.m.
Play in the double-elimination tourney begins at 2 p.m., when Nederland, Texas, meets the Alacosta, Calif., Tri-Valley Tigers.
At 4:30, Omaha, Neb., plays Hammond, Ind., and at 7 p.m. host team Dare County meets Coos Bay, Ore.
Julia Ruth Stevens, the daughter of baseball legend Babe Ruth, will serve as grand marshal of the Saturday morning parade. She will also throw the ceremonial first pitch at the opening game.
On Sunday, Ansonia, Conn., meets Nashville at 2 p.m., followed by Iron Area, N.J., vs. the Dare County-Coos Bay winner. The loser of the Nederland-Alacosta matchup will meet the Dare County-Coos Bay loser at 7 p.m.
Play continues through the weekend until the championship game next Saturday.
An estimated 2,700 seats have been sold for the tournament.
``We've sold 800 to 900 family passes,'' said Tim White, ticket sales chairman for the tournament. ``We're estimating three people per family pass.''
White said sales have been brisk in the days leading up to the series.
``Things have really been picking up, especially in the last 24 hours,'' White said. `` I expect we'll continue to sell tickets through the week.''
Saturday morning's parade will begin on U.S. 64/264 and continue through the heart of downtown Manteo.
``We'll have approximately 25 units in the parade,'' said parade coordinator Lynda Midgett, including all the players.
A U.S. Coast Guard color guard will lead the parade. Two marching bands - the 440th Army National Guard Band from Morrisville and the Manteo High School marching band - will also perform.
Also honored at the parade will be former American League President Bobby Brown, as well as national Babe Ruth Baseball officials. Brown, a former New York Yankee great, was keynote speaker at Friday night's World Series banquet.
Babe Ruth President Ronald Tellefsen praised local Babe Ruth officials for their preparation for the tournament.
``The field is in wonderful shape,'' Tellefsen said. ``Because of the improvements to the field, the players are really going to get a World Series feel.''
Coy Tillett Field has been expanded to 5,000 seats for the series, thanks in part to new bleachers funded through a grant by the Dare County Tourist Bureau, and temporary bleachers similar to those used at PGA golf events.
Three games will be played on Saturday and Sunday. Games Monday through Wednesday are set for 5:30 and 8 p.m., with a single game scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Friday's semifinals are scheduled for noon and 3 p.m., with the finals set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The semifinals and finals will be carried live on the Home Team Sports cable network.
Family passes are $50 for the entire series. Daily tickets are $10 a person. For information, call 473-1101. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by DREW C. WILSON\The Virginian-Pilot
F.C. Minton drags the infield at Coy Tillett Sr. Memorial Field on
Friday afternoon, in preparation for opening games today in the 1996
Babe Ruth World Series. Host team Dare County is scheduled to play
Coos Bay, Ore., at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday schedule
[For complete copy, see microfilm]
KEYWORDS: BABE RUTH WORLD SERIES by CNB