Reviving youth baseball in Carthage
The 12‑and‑under baseball tournament, last held two decades ago, is set to return to Carthage, New York, this weekend.
Village officials recently completed a series of upgrades to the local baseball fields, fixing long‑standing drainage problems, replacing bleachers and repairing dugouts.
During the renovation, workers uncovered a clogged drainage pipe that had been obstructed by a fence post, baseballs, Gatorade bottles and soda cans believed to have been left about 20 years earlier.
Jason Albertson, the village’s DPW superintendent, said the improvements were driven by a desire to give young athletes a place to play.
Connor Ashlaw, summer recreation supervisor and coach at Carthage Central, highlighted the tournament’s role in fostering development among the region’s youth.
Six teams are scheduled to compete, including squads from Malone, two local Carthage teams, and clubs from Beaver River, Lowville and Watertown. The event kicks off Friday night and continues through Saturday, with all proceeds earmarked for the village’s summer recreation programs.