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Summer baseball season is in full swing, and there will be plenty of talent from Pennsylvania and its surrounding states over the next week playing locally.
On Thursday, the Babe Ruth 16-18 year-old Middle Atlantic Regional Tournament begins with pool play at Seitz Field. That same day, the third year of the Park Home Classic -- which involves the three Altoona youth baseball leagues, Altoona Area Baseball Association, East End and the Altoona Independent Youth Baseball League -- will be held so the leagues can come together and crown an overall champion.
And as the Babe Ruth tournament reaches its championship game this weekend, another tournament will be starting in Hollidaysburg with the Little League Baseball Pa. Section 4 Tournament for 10-12-year olds hosted by the Hollidaysburg Area Summer Baseball League.
The following is a quick look at what fans attending each can expect throughout the week.
Babe Ruth 16-18
The Middle Atlantic Regional Tournament will begin at Seitz Field on Thursday at 10 a.m. with a game between Pottstown and Pine Forge.
Those two teams, along with Northern Delaware, will join host Altoona in Pool A.
"This is our ninth year hosting a regional tournament," Altoona Teener League president Cory Seymour said. "We are extremely proud of the teams that we have competing in our tournaments. This 18U team, this is their fourth year competing in the Senior Babe Ruth. This is the second time we have hosted the 18U regional. The first year, Altoona was the runner-up, but the last two years, they were regional champions and made the world series. We're looking to three-peat, go back and make a run."
Pool B will include Prince George's, Kennett Square, Lackawanna and Keystone.
The winner of the tournament will advance to the Babe Ruth World Series in Ocala, Florida on Aug. 1-8.
"(Altoona) has the same core group of players with some additional pitching arms and some strength at the plate to help boost the team and make it just a little bit better than it was last year," Seymour said.
Altoona will play the night game at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday against Northern Delaware, Pottstown and Pine Forge respectively.
The semifinals will be single elimination featuring the top two teams from each pool and the championship game will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday night at Seitz Field.
"If you come out and watch these boys play, you're going to see good baseball from players who are highly scouted at the college level," Seymour said. "They are from across the Mid-Atlantic, and you'll see them advance after Babe Ruth and continue their athletic careers at the next level. You will see some pretty good baseball."
Little League Section 4
The Hollidaysburg Little League team, ages 10 to 12, which has already won its district over Tyrone, Mount Union and Huntingdon, will compete in the Section 4 Tournament and be hosted by the Hollidaysburg Area Summer Baseball League beginning on Saturday with three other teams -- including West Suburban out of Westmont, State College and East Pennsboro.
The four-team tournament will be double-elimination style and just the champion advances to the state tournament the week after the championship game, which will be held Tuesday, July 15 at 6 p.m.
"We're super excited to be able to host the four different teams from the different districts here," HASBL vice president Brian Hmel said. "This is the second time in three years that we have hosted the 12-year-old sectional tournament. We love all the support we get from the community and the help at the field. Hosting this and showcasing the Hollidaysburg Little League is awesome."
Park Home Classic
Starting Thursday, 23 teams from the AABA, AIYBL and East End will come together for the third annual Park Home Classic hosted this year by East End to decide a champion between the three leagues.
"We're ecstatic about it as a committee and the way the tournament has been run," Park Home Classic board president Jarrod Klausman said. "Last year, AIYBL did a great job hosting after AABA did a great job the first time. We financially grew so much through it for all three leagues. We split the proceeds all three ways no matter who hosts the tournament. It's a tournament that benefits every single baseball player in the city of Altoona and the leagues."
Klausman, who represents AABA coached a team that played for that league's championship and will now have a chance at the overall Altoona title.
"A lot of people talk about a true city championship, and it's been something people have talked about for decades," Klausman said. "Being part of the group to make it happen and making it bigger and better each year to make it better is really exciting."
The tournament is single elimination style and will conclude on Saturday, July 19 with the championship.
Many of the games will be available on the radio station HANK-FM (96.1) starting with two games Thursday evening at 6:30 and 8:15.
"It's a great opportunity for kids to play more baseball," Klausman said. "To win the whole thing, you have to win four games. I know for a lot of years and in the past, there was no coordination between the three leagues to do anything together. Our committee consists of three people from each league working together from January on getting sponsorships for everything and anything that needs done at the field. All nine of us are there the week of making sure we do a good job, and it's been really well received by the community."