Baxter may land Babe Ruth baseball tournament

BAXTER -- Baxter likely will host the Babe Ruth Midwest Regional baseball championships in 2005.

A year after the city's Pepsi Babe Ruth 10-U team won the Midwest Regional in Iowa City, Iowa, the Baxter City Council Tuesday gave city staffers the approval to send in the application for the tournament.

"We've been told it's pretty much ours if we want it," said Recreation Director Bud Reponen.

There will be nine teams -- the Babe Ruth state champions -- in the Midwest Regional. The tournament is expected to take place in mid-summer. The games would be held at Oscar Kristofferson Park.

"This will be great for the community," Reponen said.

In other action, the council:

Swore in Mayor Darrel Olson and council members Randy Hukriede and Gary Muehlhausen.

Set the annual city council workshop 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Country Inn and Suites.

Appointed council members and other city officials to 14 commissions and other positions.

Named the Dispatch as the city's official newspaper for 2005.

MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.