Jon Gerardi on sports: World Series berth shows West End’s continued tradition of success

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
West End’s Briar Persing (17) and catcher Lucas Naughtoin (25) receive the Babe Ruth Pennsylvania state championship plaque for the 13-16-year-old championship after beating Media. West End’s Babe Ruth program has countless titles in its history between Pennsylvania state titles, Mid-Atlantic Regional titles and World Series appearances.

When you walk toward Logue Field after parking, it’s hard to miss the giant banners that adorn the dugouts, concession stand and press box. Numerous placards point out the achievements that West End’s Babe Ruth all-star teams have accomplished over the years.

Venture into the press box, and it looks like you entered the Boston Garden with plaque upon plaque hanging on the wall. Dozens to point out the various championships won over the years.

Pennsylvania state title championships.

Mid-Atlantic Regional championship titles.

Berths and runs at the Babe Ruth World Series throughout the various age divisions.

The faces and names change every few years in the dugouts at Logue Field, but the one thing that’s a constant is the success and legacy of West End Baseball.

It doesn’t matter what coach takes over, the expectation is to be competing for a Mid-Atlantic Regional title and making a run at the World Series every summer. This summer is the latest exhibit of just that.

West End’s 13-16-year-old all-star team is competing at the Babe Ruth World Series in Branson, Missouri, having qualified after winning the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship in late July. That tournament gets underway on Saturday with a first-round pool-play matchup against Alabama.

For West End manager Marc Hess, this isn’t a new feeling. He coached West End’s 13-year-old all-stars in 2022 that reached the World Series in Virginia. Now he’s back, with a group of kids who are extremely talented looking to continue to build on that legacy and tradition.

Whenever a West End all-star team claims a title, be it states or regionals, West End president Jim Winder has the kids go up to the press box and hang one of the plaques on the wall. The kids enjoy doing it, and it helps add to that tradition.

“Just to continue the rich tradition of West End (is great). You go out and play in these state and Mid-Atlantic tournaments and people know who West End is,” Hess said. “They know you’re from Williamsport, Pennsylvania and you’ll be a hard team to beat. Hearing New Jersey talking about us from last year and previous years and saying how good we are (was cool). It’s good to get our name out there and make sure people know when we come to play, we’re going to bring a really good baseball team and continue to play all seven innings of baseball.”

It’s a sentiment all the players share. Every summer they have the chance to keep building on those titles and successes, and every summer they keep delivering.

“I think it means a lot to our team and me myself, I look up there and there’s a lot of people that I know and have seen play,” West End’s Wyatt Bair said. “It’s an enjoyable experience.”

“Now we have two names up there (on plaques),” West End’s Mason Hess said, referring to having played in the 2022 World Series. “So that’s nice.”

Needless to say, another title this summer will make it even nicer. But win or lose, this group of players has already etched their name with the others of former West End standouts with a state title and Mid-Atlantic Regional title so far.

Jon Gerardi is the sports editor at the Sun-Gazette. He can be reached by email at jgerardi@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JonGerardi.