Sandlot World Series comes to Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Who doesn't love the sound of a bat cracking against a worn baseball? Now just add live music, food and drinks and a sandlot baseball field and that's the experience at the Long Time Texas.

This is the home of the Texas Playboys, a sandlot baseball team that calls the Long Time Texas home.

This weekend the field will be one of two locations in Central Texas where teams from around the state will play in the Sandlot World Series.

On Saturday the teams will begin the Sandlot World Series at the Long Time Texas, then Sunday the fun will continue with more games at the Wishing Well, which is the Lockhart sandlot field.

Don't expect a score to be kept in this continuous game though. The 14 teams participating will alternate in and out throughout the day. It's not for competition, but just for fun, said Jack Sanders, the man behind the team.

"You never say we beat this team, or they beat us," Sanders said. "Sometimes we may say we scored 8, not saying that they scored 18."

Sanders said the team has been playing for the past two decades and Sandlot baseball has continued to get more popular in that time.

"I think this kind of baseball, community baseball goes back forever. But in the last 20 years, 15 years there has been a real movement of real community baseball or sandlot baseball around the country," Sanders said. "The hub of this activity as far as I am concerned is Central Texas. Austin is a big part of it, San Antonio, Dallas Ft. Worth."

Teams from all over the United States have played at this man-made field.

"This season we hosted over 50 teams from across the country," Sanders said. "We have had teams from California, St. Louis, Baltimore, Tulsa, Nashville, we have had a team from Saskatchewan, Canada. We have inquiries from teams in France and Australia."

When it comes to the field and facilities, think of the 1990's movie the Sandlot, where old pieces of scrap can go a long way.

As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure, and that is what you will find at the Longtime Texas.

You will find old wheelchairs or a stationary bike for seating, re-purposed lumber, metal for buildings and man-made signs to highlight sponsors.

"We have made an effort to be a zero waste facility so when you are at a longtime baseball game you will see our green team literally sorting trash," Sanders said.

For Sanders and those who have stopped by over the years, the Longtime Texas and sandlot baseball has become a gathering place to kick back with friends, families and strangers. It's a way to enjoy life and play some ball.

"We are really thinking about what is the experience like for the spectators' side of the backstop and make sure everyone feels like they are participating and are part of the day," Sanders said.

The league offers memberships for those who stop by regularly, but you can also pay $10 at the door for this weekend's events.

For more information about the team click here.