By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
A group of Bronson boys is headed to the Orlando area to play in a national baseball championship tournament.
The boys won the tri-county Babe Ruth Baseball championship in the 12 and under class and finished their season with a 22-2 record.
They will head to Youth Nationals Florida Baseball Tournament in Sanford to compete for a national championship in the 13 and under class.
Some of the boys and their coaches appeared before the Bronson Town Council Monday night to ask for a contribution to offset the expected $3,400 in entry fees and lodging expenses connected with the tournament.
The council gave them a $500 donation for the June 30-July 5 tourney.
“This is a chance to give our little town of Bronson national exposure,” said Coach Jeff Jordan.
He said the boys never give up on the field of play.
“There’s no quit in them whatsoever,” Jordan said.
Council members said the team could use the town-owned catcher’s gear for the tournament.
But Parks and Recreation Director Curtis Stacy said they would have to purchase liability insurance for the trip and the parents would be required to sign waiver forms in case a player is hurt in a game.
He said the national tournament is not a Babe Ruth sponsored activity and the insurance that covers Babe Ruth play in Bronson doesn’t apply to the competition in Sanford.
“We need to be covered in case anything happens,” Stacy said.
The team will participate in a car wash Saturday at Bronson Ace Hardware to raise money for the trip. Businesses will be approached for donations.
The vote to approve Councilman Jason Hunt’s motion for a $500 donation met with mild resistance. Councilwoman Beatrice Roberts said her first instinct was to oppose a donation because it sets a precedent for other teams to ask for donations. She likened the trip to travel ball.
Jordan said this isn’t travel ball.
She added that because it is a national tournament, she was going to ask all the individual council members to donate money to the team. Roberts voted with the council to approve the donation.
Mayor Bruce Greenlee said he understood what Roberts was saying when she expressed concern about setting a precedent, but he said the boys will be playing in a national championship tournament.
“They’re going to have Bronson across their chest when they get there,” he said.
Photo by Terry Witt: Coach Jeff Jordan and his tri-county Babe Ruth baseball championship team from Bronson received a $500 donation from the Bronson Town Council. L to R – Jeff Jordan – Head Coach, Kevin Runion, Blaine Taylor, Cian Ronaldo, Blake Taylor, Zach McClelland, David Runion.
2018 Baseball Team Roster:
Name Jersey#
Kevin Runion 12
David Runion 15
Zachary McClelland 10
Seth Haley 25
Jeremiah Lindley 11
Blake Taylor 69
Blaine Taylor 4
Caleb Kellum 13
William Six 75
Tristen O’Neal 99
Kasey Weeks 7
Jeythian Merced 9
Shane (A.J.) Hilligoss, Jr. 17
Cian Ronaldo 5
Town of Bronson Regular Meeting May 21, 2018
Posted May 22, 2018
