Southern Indiana Business Report
VINCENNES – In what is described as one of the largest youth sporting events in America, more than 300 top youth baseball players from 14 states and five countries and territories will play 78 games in eight days for the 2025 Cal Ripken 10-Year-Old World Series in Vincennes. The week-long event is expected to produce upwards of $7 million in economic impact for the Knox County region.
Following a number of organizational events, teams began competitive play Aug 9. A championship game will conclude the World Series Aug. 16, with teams departing the following day.
“It is an honor for us to return to Vincennes with another World Series,” said Bob Connor, vice president of operations for Babe Ruth League, Inc. “What kids and their families love best about the Babe Ruth League program are the friendships they build in the communities and beyond – Vincennes is one of the friendliest communities in our program and their love of the game is exceptionally strong.”
“This represents a major event for Vincennes and the region, with players, coaches, and families using available hotel rooms in Vincennes, Evansville, Princeton, Terre Haute, and more,” said Kirk Bouchie, general manager of Vincennes Water Utilities, who is serving as the World Series host president and as president of the Vincennes Cub League. Teams of 10-year-olds are represented from the states of Alabama, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington, as well as Puerto Rico, Aruba, Germany, Mexico and the Philippines.
The 2025 event is the eighth time Vincennes has hosted the tournament.
“It takes many months and many volunteers to plan an event of this magnitude for Vincennes, and we are grateful for all the support we’ve received from the community,” Bouchie said. Several local restaurants, hotels and related facilities have stepped up to help, he noted.
The World Series serves as a gateway experience for many first-time visitors to Vincennes and Knox County, with many returning to the region for subsequent trips and vacations, according to the Babe Ruth League.
“While our first priority is to provide a solid baseball program for our visitors this month, we have an Ambassadors Family program with 131 local families participating that helps visitors and families feel at home while they are here,” said Bouchie. “The World Series has an ‘old-time’ grass-roots baseball feel in a modern 21st century setting.”
Part of what Bouchie describes as “old fashioned tradition” includes 27 local bat boys for the teams, 61 local princesses selected to help serve, and the production of a full-scale 100-page event program, which was designed locally by Elizabeth Fleck and printed by Ewing Printing in Vincennes.
Lasting economic impact
The tournament makes a multi-day lasting economic and tourism impact on Knox County, including an estimated 3,500 hotel room nights across southern Indiana, according to Bouchie.
“What our community reaps from hosting this tournament is huge,” said Jamie Neal, president of the Knox County Chamber. ”I speak both from a Knox County Chamber perspective and from a parent living the baseball travel life, with my family having participated for the last eight years in these tournaments in other cities.”
Neal said that hotels, restaurants, tourism attractions and more will benefit from the tournament, where families can spend in excess of $3,000 each.
“Our community rolls out the carpet for our visiting baseball families and friends to make this the best city for this tournament,” she said. “Families who travel across states and other countries to come here openly talk about the great experience and the great memories made in Knox County.”
As the host community, the Vincennes Cub League selected 10-year-old and 9-year-old teams to compete in the event. Games will be played at the Joe Bilskie, Sr. Field and Earl Lawson Field in Vincennes, both public community baseball fields. Both are considered “two of the finest youth baseball facilities in the Midwest,” according to the Babe Ruth League.
“We are excited and honored that the Babe Ruth League has again chosen our historic city for this event,” said Mayor Joe Yochum of Vincennes.
The event demonstrates the attractive character and quality of life available in Knox County, according to Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County Indiana Economic Development. “This is a community-led event that directly supports other communities in a major way, all of which enhances our reputation as a family-friendly region and a great place to live, work and play.”
Organized by the Babe Ruth League, 25 teams were drawn from 35 states and six countries through progressive tournaments to compete for the World Series title.