Connie Mack World Series earns rave reviews while organizers look to the future

FARMINGTON — The nighttime crowds have been buzzing. The action on the field has been entertaining. The games have provided both fans and players some great moments.

For all intents and purposes, the 2021 Connie Mack World Series, which wraps up July 31 with the championship game, has been an enormous success, both for the competing teams and the people putting on what has been a remarkable show.

Between the uncertainty of the tournament even taking place this summer because of health protocols earlier this year, the massive remodeling project at Ricketts Park and the logistics of getting everyone in place while differing states and regions had health regulations almost always looming, the nearly seamless nature with which the series has played out is a monumental achievement.  

But there's always room for improvement.

American Amateur Baseball Congress president Richard Neely couldn't help but marvel at the outpouring of support the tournament has received since play started last week at three separate venues in Farmington, and has now shifted to a newly renovated and still sparkling Ricketts Park.

Connie Mack World Series:Enid Majors cruise past D-Bat United as CMWS continues

"The tournament itself has been great. We've been sold out several nights and you can't ask for more than that as far as fans are concerned," Neely said between games Thursday night at Ricketts Park. "We're getting to the point in the final days where the competition has been really good."

With so many questions and concerns about public health protocols in the weeks and months leading up to the tournament, Neely said that, for the most part, host families and players have been diligent and thoughtful in ensuring the best for those involved in almost every aspect of the games.

"I haven't heard one comment regarding (coronavirus) during the event," Neely said. "It's been pretty amazing. We had some families that wanted to make sure kids were vaccinated before they arrived and most of the kids that came here showed up already vaccinated."

More:Renegades run away from Knights in Monday's 2021 Connie Mack World Series opener

The state of New Mexico was represented in the Connie Mack World Series by three teams, the first time in the history of the tournament where that's been the case.

The host team, the Farmington Sting, along with the Frackers, were joined by the Albuquerque Baseball Academy, which qualified for the tournament by winning a regional series earlier this month in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Neither of those three teams made it past the third round of the tournament, but Neely believes there's reason for optimism as it relates to the success of these programs going forward.

"The concept of putting together a very competitive team is something to look at in the future," Neely said. "The AABC doesn't have an All-Star game, and while Farmington has a host team, it's definitely to our benefit to make sure they can pull in some great kids to help them win."

The ABA's roster consisted of players across the state of New Mexico, from Sandia Prep High School, Los Alamos High School and Carlsbad High School. The Frackers roster was made up of players not only from Aztec High School and the surrounding community, but also from as far away as Dallas and Oklahoma.

"Anytime the host team has done well here, they've had as many as 10 import players on their roster," Neely said. 

The ABA squad winning a regional qualifier was a first for the Connie Mack World Series. And despite their early exit from the tournament, they compiled a few highlights along the way, beating the Dallas Patriots last Tuesday by a final of 8-5 in the second round before being eliminated 7-6 by the Nashville Knights in a game that was knotted at 6-all going into the sixth inning.

CMWS Central::Your place to go for 2021 Connie Mack World Series scores, updates and more

ABA coach Tim Campos believes their run will perhaps open the door for more New Mexico teams to have an impact on the CMWS.

"There should be a New Mexico team," Campos said earlier this week. "We've been trying for years, and finally we were able to get in. And I think the committee that runs the series saw the impact we had, not just on revenue but attendance and interest in those teams."

Neely also expressed an interest in seeing the viability of teams from New Mexico being challengers for the series title, suggesting that some regional tournaments provide tougher competition than others leading up to the Connie Mack World.

"I think there's definitely a future there," Neely said, regarding the opportunities of other teams representing the state in the CMWS. "Some of the regional tournaments are more competitive than others, so that's something to consider as well."

Keeping true to the tradition of Farmington having a host team is a priority for Neely, as well as the local and regional committees.

"We're going to take care of the Farmington kids, they've earned the right to have an opportunity to play."

More:Players take the field Friday in Connie Mack World Series at three Farmington venues

Whether it was the two local teams, or the ABA squad, there was clearly a disadvantage for these teams as it related to playing time together as opposed to the teams currently vying for the championship.

The three teams from New Mexico had played a total of 22 games prior to the CMWS, where the average visiting team from another region played as many as 30-40 games.

Neely believes that had much to do with some states allowing games to be played while under less restrictive health protocols and the lateness of New Mexico high schools ending their calendar year.

"These (local) kids didn't play together 60 days, and the Dallas teams have played together for a year plus," Neely said. "That was a key thing at just looking at the ability to do something."

Championship Saturday begins at 4:30 p.m. at Ricketts Park. The game will be televised live on New Mexico CW MY50 TV. The game, or games depending on outcome of the first game, can also be heard on radio at KSJE, 90.9 FM in Farmington, 103.3 FM in Durango and streaming live at www.KSJE.com.

Steve Bortstein can be reached via email at SBortstein@Gannett.com, via Twitter @DTSBortstein or on the phone at (505) 635-2680.