Race against the clock: softball world series means big changes to Alachua rec center

ALACHUA – Seven months away from the first crack of a bat, renovations are well underway in preparation for the Babe Ruth 12 and under Girls’ Softball 2010 World Series, which runs Aug. 7-14.

Grass infields have been torn out and replaced with clay, and plans have been drawn up to upgrade the sidewalks and parking lot at the Hal Brady Recreation Complex. New bleachers, new dugouts, new signs around the complex and new backstops are on the way along with improvements to the press box and concession stand.

Earl Findley, Santa Fe Babe Ruth program president, is in charge of the event. He and Hal Brady, Alachua recreation director, have been working on the event for more than a year. Brady said between renovations, transportation and other costs, the price tag for the event is about $140,000 to $160,000. Various businesses, individual donors and government entities from Alachua, High Springs and Gainesville have come together to contribute money and in-kind donations for the park.

“I think it’s going to be big – big for the community and the kids,” Findley said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event for most all of the kids that are participating.”

Findley and Brady have held meetings every two weeks with the goal of getting most of the renovations done for the March 20 start of the Alachua recreational league. Brady said things are going well and the park renovations are on schedule.

The goal is to make this the biggest Babe Ruth Softball World Series ever and match the size of the boys’ Babe Ruth Baseball World Series Alachua hosted in 1992, Brady said. He said bringing in that many people to the city will help local restaurants, hotels, gas stations and other businesses.

“We hope we’re going to help everybody in this community – in Alachua, High Springs and Gainesville,” Brady said.

The 10-team tournament will consist of teams from around the country. At least two of the teams will be from Florida; the host team and the Florida state champion automatically qualify.

One way people can help locally is by serving as a host family for two of the 11- to 12-year-old girls from Aug. 5 to Aug.15. Findley needs a total of 70 host families. Several local churches and the City of Alachua staff have stepped up to host entire teams, but many host families are still needed.

University of Florida softball coach Tim Walton will be the keynote speaker, and Findley said he’s hoping to get Governor Charlie Crist to attend.

Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Domino’s, Santa Fe Ford and SunState Federal Credit Union are serving as corporate gold sponsors.