Spring Meeting
The 2024 Annual Spring Meeting was held at the Silver Legacy Resort in Reno, Nevada on Thursday, February 8th.
Roll of Honor
The Region acknowledges the dedication and support of the 2024 recipients of the Pacific Northwest Region’s Roll of Honor Awards, Don Young (Alberta Provincial Commissioner) and Kay Blakney (PNW Cal Ripken Assistant Regional Commissioner, North Washington).
In the picture above, Roll of Honor Chairman Jarl Opgrande and PNW Regional Commissioner Brent Stenman present the Roll of Honor plaques to Don Young (Alberta Provincial Commissioner) and Kay Blakney (PNW Cal Ripken Assistant State Commissioner, North Washington) at the PNW Regional Meeting in Reno on February 8th, 2024.
In the picture above are the currently active members of the Pacific Northwest Region’s Roll of Honor. Pictured from left to right are John Tennant (PNW Regional Umpire Consultant, South Washington), Dan Riley (North & South Washington State Commissioner), Jarl Opgrande (PNW 13-15 Assistant Regional Commissioner, South Washington), Don Young (Alberta Provincial Commissioner), Alan Odenborg (Idaho State Commissioner), Kay Blakney (PNW Cal Ripken Assistant State Commissioner, North Washington), Brent Stenman (PNW Regional Commissioner, North Washington), and Butch Hert (PNW 16-18 Assistant Regional Commissioner, North Oregon). The photo was taken at the PNW Regional Meeting in Reno on February 8th, 2024.
World Series
Congratulations to Portland Youth Baseball (North Oregon), the Champions at the 2023 13-15 World Series held in Jamestown, New York!
Babe Ruth League, Inc. Hall of Fame
Congratulations to former BC Commissioner Brian Pipes who was recently elected to the Babe Ruth League, Inc. Hall of Fame! Brian was elected for this great honor at the Babe Ruth League, Inc. 2022 Board Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The plaque was recently presented to Brian in his hometown of Trail, BC by Babe Ruth League, Inc. Senior Vice President & National Commissioner Robert Faherty.
Congratulations to Mike Doyle
Congratulations to Mike Doyle from Calgary, Alberta, who has received the Pacific Northwest Region Lefty Gomez Volunteer of the Year Award! This award has traditionally been a national award, and 2023 is the first year that an award winner from each Region was selected. Mike received his award during the 2023 16-18 PNW Regional Tournament. Congratulations Mike!
Congratulations to Ryan Blakney
Ryan is the son of Phil & Kay Blakney of Wenatchee, WA. Kay is the Assistant Regional Commissioner of the Cal Ripken Division, Pacific Northwest Babe Ruth Baseball.
Ryan has recently been promoted to the full time MLB umpire staff. He was previously a call up, and had done over 600 Major League games. He has worked hard for 15 years to reach this goal.
Ryan started umpiring when he was 11 years old after injuring his arm. He continued to umpire Cal Ripken, then Babe Ruth, then High School and Community College games. After he graduated from Wenatchee Valley Community College he went to the Jim Evans Umpire School in Florida in 2006, and was invited to go to PBUC School (Professional Baseball Umpire Corp.), one of 50 asked out of 250. After graduating he umpired in many leagues including the Arizona Rookie League, the Northwest League, the Midwest League, the Carolina League, the California League, the Texas League and eventually to the Pacific Coast League.
In 2015 Ryan was assigned a major league umpire number and was made one of the five rovers for the PCL. A rover fills in for an injured or vacationing major league umpire.
Congratulations Ryan!
Other Information:
Please see the following link for instruction on how to convert your field for Cal Ripken:
Diamond Conversion for Cal Ripken Leagues
Please see the following link for information about the Coaches Certification Program: