MOSES LAKE — The 2009 Babe Ruth World Series Task Force met at the Holiday Inn Express in Moses Lake Wednesday night to discuss the planning of the World Series baseball tournament to be held in Moses Lake Aug. 15 through Aug. 22.

Members of the Task Force discussed needs including acquiring volunteers, World Series income and advertisements, and participant housing.

With the 2009 tournament less than five months away, Babe Ruth World Series Tournament co-Director and Task Force Chairman Randy Boruff said housing is a huge priority for the August tournament.

“It would be a shame if we have a World Series here and we can’t house all of the teams,” he said. “We need to have housing. It’s critical.”

Housing co-Coordinators Eileen and Roger Martinez have secured enough homes for approximately five teams, leaving the Task Force four teams short of their nine-team goal.

“It’s very important that we find housing now so we don’t have to worry about it two weeks before (the tournament),” Roger Martinez said.

Eileen and Roger Martinez have worked to place about two participants per home, but the Task Force is still short on housing.

“We still need about 45 homes,” Eileen Martinez said.

While the Task Force is working on participant housing, Boruff said tournament fund raising is progressing smoothly.

“Collecting money has been good,” he said. “When all of the money has been deposited (by Monday), we will have $45,000 in the bank.”

Boruff said the Task Force has secured enough sponsorships for the August tournament, but housing is still vital at this stage in the planning.

“We have done a great job of selling sponsorships,” he said. “Money-wise we are in great shape, but we still need to find homes for teams.”

In addition to housing World Series participants, host families will receive family passes to attend the tournament and Boruff said housing a World Series participant is a special opportunity.

“Host families will get a family pass to attend the event and people are guaranteed a week’s full of fun and memories that will last a lifetime,” Boruff said.

Members of the Task Force are also selling advertisement space in the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series program and Tournament co-Director Kerry Garbe said advertising in the program will help benefit the community.

“(Advertising) will help support the World Series,” Garbe said. “Babe Ruth (League’s) figures say (the tournament could) generate a million dollars into the local economy.”

The Babe Ruth World Series Task Force will meet again April 22 at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express on East Kittelson in Moses Lake.

To volunteer to house a World Series participant, contact Eileen and Roger Martinez at 509-765-1052.

To advertise in the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series program contact Kerry Garbe at 509-75-4574.