Wood Bat Little League Tournament to benefit Baseball in Benin, West Africa Aug 1-4

Robbinsdale, Minnesota (July 29, 2019) - The 2019 Baseball in Benin Little League Wood Bat Tournament kicks off this week for Little League aged teams (9, 10, 11 & 12-year old’s). This year a record 50 teams from around the Twin Cities metro area will play over 80 games at Skippy and Northside Fields in St. Louis Park and at Lakeview Terrace, Lee and Sanborn Parks in Robbinsdale.

Teams competing in the tournament will exclusively be using wood bats. This fun tournament is completely run by volunteers, and will again benefit the Baseball in Benin (BIB) project with one of the goals to again bring a team from Benin, West Africa to Minnesota to play in this Tournament in 2020. BIB brought teams to Minnesota from Benin in 2016 and 2018. Coaches and umpires from Benin will be on hand during this year's tournament in addition to an "African Market" with novelties and food for sale from Benin. A home run hitting contest will also be featured on Saturday and Sunday.

This year Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer has selected Baseball in Benin as one of his "69 Days of Giving" charities to receive $10 for every strikeout he records during the 2019 season. So far Bauer has struck out 185 batters which translates to $1,850.00 for BIB.

Minnesotans Gary Tonsager and Wally Langfellow began Baseball in Benin in 2010 with the goal to introduce the sport to the youth of the small impoverished nation of Benin, West Africa. Currently over 400 players strong in addition to 35 coaches, BIB continues to supply players in Benin with much needed training and equipment including shoes, bats, gloves, catcher's gear, equipment bags, and uniforms.

All proceeds from this weekend's Wood Bat Tournament will continue to support the BIB project which includes shipping equipment to Benin. The Wood Bat Tournament, now in its 15th year, is a great way for the players in Minnesota to connect and help the players in Africa.

For more information and photos or to make a donation or volunteer please visit baseballinbenin.org or Baseball in Benin on Facebook. Media Inquires should contact Wally Langfellow 763.537.3317 or email wally@minnesotascore.com