By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
The opening day of sign-ups for the Brewton Advanced Babe Ruth League drew 25 commitments, but league coordinator Joey Shell is hopeful for even more.
Shell hopes when all commitments have been received there will be enough for the league to field at least three teams, which would require about 33 to 36 players.
Brewton fielded an Advanced Babe Ruth League team, which is for boys age 16 to 18, back in the 1970s and early 1980s, but has not fielded one since.
Shell said the Advanced Babe Ruth League gives boys more options to play baseball in the summer.
Shell estimates the season will consist of roughly 12 games and will last about five weeks. As is the case with the current Babe Ruth League for 13, 14 and 15-year-old players, the top players in the Advance Babe Ruth League will advance to all-star competition after regular season play is concluded.
In addition to finding players, Shell said there are a lot of other things to do in a short amount of time.
available for use as well as the East Brewton Babe Ruth field. We're working around the schedules already in place for the 13, 14 and 15-year-old teams. We have to put together a game schedule and find umpires,” said Shell. &#8220We got a late start with this. We're throwing this all together at the last minute. The one thing we do have in is place is coaches. Jacob Salter, Patrick Sorrells, Daniel Hodge, Cory Freeman, Ryan Hawkins, Wayne Nall and Mark Cannon will be coaching.”
Shell indicated sign-ups will be accepted today at the East Brewton firehouse. If necessary, one can contact Shell at the firehouse today at 867-4858.