By JOSH BOUTWELL

Baseball fans, get ready. Local venues recently were selected to be the host site for two of the 2016 Babe Ruth Alabama State Baseball Tournaments and the 2018 Babe Ruth 15 and Under Southwest Regional Baseball Tournament.

The 9 and Under Cal Ripken Tournament will begin June 25, with players arriving June 24. The Babe Ruth 13 and Under Tournament will begin July 9, with players arriving July 8. There will be at least 10 teams for both tournaments. The 9 and Under Tournament will be held at Johnson Park.

Covington County Recreation Board member Kyle Adams said the 13 and under tournament will be held at Straughn High School’s baseball field and LBW Community College, if necessary.

“While the teams have not been finalized yet, we expect about nine teams for the 13 and under tournament,” he said. “But the 9 and under tournament could have as few as 10 and as many as 16.”

A 12U district tournament will also be held at Johnson Park from June 9-13.

At the Babe Ruth League Annual Meetings, Andalusia was also awarded the 2018 Babe Ruth 15 and Under Southwest Regional Tournament. The Southwest Regional will host teams from Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, three teams from Texas, Arkansas, and New Mexico with the winning team earning a spot in the Babe Ruth World Series.

In 2011, Andalusia hosted the 12 and Under Babe Ruth World Series and in 2013, Andalusia hosted the 16-18-Year-Old Babe Ruth World Series for the Gulf Coast Region.

Eddie Stacey said Adams, Manuel Owens, Shane Cook and Wayne Bush are heading up the efforts to also bring the girls state softball tournament to Andalusia in the future as well.

Adams said they are currently working with World Series officials to bring a World Series tournament locally in the next two years.

“It is in the beginning stages,” he said. “We should know something by mid-summer.”