1999 Midwest Plains Regional
Babe Ruth 13-15 Baseball Tournament

Babe Ruth Regional Tournament Notes

SEAN PITMAN
Sports Editor
Williston Daily Herald
August 12, 1999

The entire tournament was labeled a success by coaches, fans and tournament officials. Complete results as well as photos can be found on the web at www.recordbook.com/williston, and stories can be found at the Williston Herald site located at www.willistonherald.com.

The first and second-place teams each received, in addition to their trophy plaque and individual medals, a plaque with its team picture on it, a fresh tourney booklet for each player and the state flag flown for the team during the tournament at Aafedt Stadium.

Colorado won as many games as Minnesota as it finished with a record of 4-2 for third place.

Umpires for the tournament were Williston's Dr. Ron Seeley, the Umpire-In-Chief, Mark Slotsve, Cory Hanson, Chuck Michaelson, Cory Hanson and Jeremy Wright along with Dickinson's Wayne Rau.

Aaron Head of Colorado had the best run producing game with a five-RBI game against South Dakota.

Minnesota led all teams in strikeouts, with 32 in four games. Missouri had 22 in four games.

Nebraska's Rob Morrissey had the game high with 13 strikeouts against Colorado in the opening round.

The home run total for the tourney was 10, with five each hit by lefties and righties. Minnesota led the way with four, Missouri had three, while Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa each had one.

Minnesota's Andy Peters put up MVP-type numbers as he pitched a shutout and hit 7-for-13, with three home runs, a double, had six RBIs and scored seven runs.

Colorado's Aaron Head went 11-for-17 with a triple, a double, four runs scored and eight RBIs.

Missouri's Nathan Kidd had the only multi-homer game of the tourney with two against Nebraska.

Ball shaggers for the tournament were Michael DeLorme, Chris Hendrickson, Tyler Liffrig, David Soiseth, Tucker Slagle, Shawn Erickson, Devin Kvernum, Trevor Sorenson, Austin Grunstad and Taylor Grunstad.

The grounds crew included Pete Yeager, Tom Christen, Len Stanley, Brad Westphal, John Liffrig, Dean Aafedt, Bill Boyeff and Jim Cote.

Live organ music was played throught the tourney as Ann's Piano organized a group of volunteers to play between games.

Medical care was provided by the Mercy Wellness Center staff of Harry Wallner, Deb Klinger, Candy Heller and Chris Hansen. No serious injuries were experienced despite one player being taken in for x-rays and another player running into the dugout wall.

Shoreview, Minn. is a suburb of St. Paul.

THOMAS A. KVAMME
Williston Daily Herald
August 12, 1999

CHAMPS MOVE ON

Larry Grondahl and numerous volunteers can breathe a sigh of relief as the annual Midwest Plains Regional Babe Ruth Tournament is over.

Minnesota entry Shoreview emerged as champions, and earned the right to compete in the World Series.

This team will be an excellent representative, and we wish them well in Abbeville, La.

By hosting the tourney here this can only serve as a dry run.

The local baseball committee has a bid on the table to play host for another World Series.

Williston last served as a major host in 1980.

From all observations the city is ready to play that role once again.

TOURNEY ON WEB

A special thanks has to go out to Alec Creighton of Flagler, Colo., for taking time from his schedule, and providing updated info throughout the entire Midwest Plains Regional Babe Ruth Tournament.

Creighton set up a web page at recordbook.com/williston, which in turn was linked to numerous interesting sites, including the Herald.

Hey, you can even check out the World Series site.

This has allowed readers in eight states to follow the tourney, and at the same time be exposed and get a flavor of Williston at the same time.

A color photo of the opening ceremony is in place, along with some tourney action shots.