Head coach Shane Swan, right, and assistant coach Brenin Payne will once again be in charge of the host team during this summer’s Babe Ruth World Series in Jamestown. P-J file photo

The 2021 Babe Ruth World Series held at Diethrick Park in Jamestown was one to remember, especially for the 13-year-old host team.

The Jamestown Krusaders had a stellar start to the tournament, winning its first two games and earning a spot in the playoff round. Jamestown then put up a good fight in its playoff game, but ultimately came up short to the team that finished second.

“The last tournament we won our first two games,” returning Jamestown head coach Shane Swan said. “As far as I can remember, that’s the first time a Jamestown team had won two games. Then we lost by one in the playoff round. In the playoff game we lost, a couple bad plays here and there and the game could have easily went our way.”

For many athletes, playing in the Babe Ruth World Series is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but that doesn’t have to be the case for several of the players from the 2021 Krusaders. Jamestown is once again hosting the Babe Ruth World Series and this time the age group is from 13 to 15, which means several players will get another shot.

There is no guarantee that all of the players from the 2021 team will make the 2023 squad, but their first chance to impress will be on Feb. 12 at Goldstar Athletics in Falconer, New York. Participants with the last name starting A-M will try out between 9-10:30 a.m. and last names from N-Z will try out from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Players with birth dates between May 1, 2007 to April 30, 2010 and live or attend schools in Chautauqua County, Warren County School District or Cattaraugus County west of Route 219 will be eligible to try out.

“We’re anticipating more than 100 kids to show up,” Swan said about the tryouts. “I think it’s a good idea the board is opening up the age group and gaining more interest in the sport around the area. We’re going to work on infield drills, throwing, hitting and pitching. As far as returning players, I would hope that they try out. They don’t have a guaranteed spot on the team and will have to earn it.”

People who will definitely be making a return are assistant coaches Brenin Payne and Fred Carder. Joining the staff for his first Babe Ruth World Series is Chris Yost.

“We have a roster of four head coaches,” Swan said about the coaching staff. “It makes my job easier when you have three guys as good as them. Payne used to be the head coach at Falconer, Carder is our pitching coach and now the Falconer head coach, and Yost did some coaching in Frewsburg.”

Swan and his staff have high expectations for this group after a really strong showing in 2021. They bring most of their experience from coaching high school athletes, and with the group extending to 15-year-olds they will be more well-versed.

“Last time we had to learn the 13-year-old age group,” Swan said about coaching the 2021 team. “We knew the high school level, but we didn’t know that age level. We know that group now and we’ll be coaching high schoolers.”

A strength of teams competing in the Babe Ruth World Series is familiarity with each other. While that could be a strike against most host teams, it won’t be this time. With players eligible to return from a 2021 squad that found plenty of success, this year’s team could make some noise.

“Some of these teams that come in here have been playing together their entire life,” Swan said about the competition. “It’s beneficial to pull from the entirety of Chautauqua County, some of Cattaraugus and Warren County School District because we can put a good product on the field. The more exposure these kids can get is a fantastic opportunity. There is not a kid here that would tell you they didn’t have a great time. The Jamestown crowd was great and it was an awesome experience.”

With the talent Jamestown will be able to bring back, the biggest obstacle the team might face is the cost to put together a team.

“We’re looking for donations,” Swan noted. “It’s very costly to run this team and the burden falls on the coaches. If anyone wants to donate, they can reach out to me at 716-499-1363 and I can get them a donation form, or you can reach out to Jamestown Babe Ruth to donate and specify that it would be going to the World Series team.”