It is 8:00 p.m. and I am watching a little league Home Run Derby under the lights at Hallie Park.
Levi is in the outfield shagging balls and cheering for his teammates. Colton is probably running in circles somewhere behind me with his friends.
This is Hallie Youth Days. And I am honestly a little emotional that it is already here.
Summer went SO fast. I keep saying it and I cannot stop because it is just true. Between traveling ball tournaments, t-ball games, backyard baseball practice, and more sunscreen than I ever thought possible, this season has been full in the very best way. And Hallie Youth Days is how it wraps up.
If you are local to the Lake Hallie area and you have kids in baseball, you already know what this week is. But if you are new to the area or thinking about making a move to the Lake Hallie community, let me tell you about one of the things that makes this place really special.
What Is Hallie Boys Baseball?
Hallie Boys Baseball is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that has been running youth baseball in the Lake Hallie area since 1970. Let that sink in. Since 1970.
The program runs the full spectrum from T-Ball all the way through Babe Ruth, plus a competitive traveling program called the Hallie Heat. It is a community institution in every sense of the word. Every family volunteers. Every family shows up. And every kid who plays baseball here is part of something bigger than just a team.
This is our seventh year with Hallie Baseball and I can honestly say it has shaped our summers in ways I did not expect when we signed Levi up the first time.
This year I signed on as a field sign sponsor for Hallie Baseball — a three year commitment through my real estate business. It felt like the right way to invest in something that has given our family so much.
What Is Hallie Youth Days?
Hallie Youth Days is the end-of-season celebration for Hallie Boys Baseball. It runs July 22 through 26 this year, all at Hallie Park in Lake Hallie.
Think of it as the grand finale of the summer. Every league division from T-Ball through the older kids participates in an end-of-season tournament, with awards for first through third place. But it is way more than just baseball games.
Here is what Hallie Youth Days includes:
The league tournament runs throughout the week with championship games on Sunday.
The Home Run Derby is one of the most fun nights of the whole week. The qualifier was Wednesday night, with the top 10 hitters from each division earning a spot in the Saturday finale. Watching kids absolutely CRUSH the ball under the lights is something else.
The Skills Competition is brand new this year and runs Thursday night. This one is team-based, for Coach Pitch and older divisions, and we loves seeing it shake out. The teamwork was incredible! New traditions are the best.
There is also a bounce house, concessions, photo booth (The Snap Photo Bar, which we own), and the whole park has that end-of-summer community fair energy that is honestly hard to describe until you have been there.
And Saturday night? Fireworks. A full fireworks show to close out the season. It is the perfect ending.
For more details, visit hallieboysbaseball.org.
Our Summer in Baseball
I want to be real with you for a second because this is the part that gets me every year.
Baseball season with kids is CHAOTIC. Like, logistically chaotic. There are nights with two games at the same time at different fields, Watermelon Red Bulls in the car between stops, and more grass stains than I care to count. My husband and I have become experts at the handoff.
And yet. Every single August I am sad it is ending.
This is Levi’s (our oldest son) second year with the Hallie Heat 10U traveling team. He has grown so much as a player, but honestly? The thing I am most proud of is his sportsmanship. He is a great teammate. He cheers loud, he picks his guys up when things go sideways, and he plays the game the right way. We won some and we lost some this season. That is just how it goes. But Levi had his eye on something specific ever since he started traveling ball.
Last year when he joined traveling ball, all he wanted was a trophy ring. He talked about it all season. And this year, he earned it!
Meanwhile, Colton absolutely KILLED it at T-Ball this summer. Truth be told, he probably should have been in Coach Pitch. He does not even hit off a tee at home or when he is playing with friends, so it was a little bit of a step back for him in terms of challenge. But he never complained, he had the best time, and now he is fired up to move into fall baseball where he will be in Coach Pitch. Watch out.
And Levi? He is going to try football for the first time this fall. So we are heading into a new season of standing on sidelines in a very different kind of weather. I am not ready.
The Snap Photo Bar Was at Hallie Youth Days Saturday
If you are heading out to Hallie Park on Saturday for the finals, keep an eye out for The Snap Photo Bar photo booth! We will be set up on site and it is such a fun way to capture end-of-season memories with your team.
Whether your kid just made the Home Run Derby finale or they are just happy the season ended with a trophy, this is the moment to document it. Come find us!
Coming Up: The Hallie All Stars Tournament
Right on the heels of Youth Days, the Hallie All Stars Tournament runs July 31 through August 2. This is the traveling ball tournament, hosted right here at home for the Hallie Heat teams.
The Heat 11U teams will be competing alongside teams from around the region, including games against Marshfield and West Salem. It is a big deal and Hallie Park is going to be buzzing.
If you have never watched a traveling ball tournament before, this is a great one to come out to. High level ball, competitive teams, and that amazing park energy that makes Lake Hallie feel like home.
What This Has to Do With Moving to the Chippewa Valley
I get asked a lot what it is actually like to raise kids in this area. And my answer almost always includes baseball.
The community that exists around Hallie Boys Baseball is not something you can manufacture. It has been built over 50 years by families who kept showing up. When Levi joined the Heat last year, we did not just find a team for him. My husband and I found friends. The kind who text you after a tough game and celebrate with you after a great one.
That is what small community sports does that bigger city programs often cannot. Everybody knows each other. The kids grow up together. The parents become your people.
If you are a family thinking about relocating to the Eau Claire or Chippewa Falls area and youth sports are a big part of your family life, this is exactly the kind of community infrastructure that makes this place worth the move.
Curious about what life actually looks like here? Check out my Moving to Eau Claire or Chippewa Falls guide for an honest look at what to expect, or grab my free Chippewa Falls Local Guide with all my favorite local spots.
And if you are looking for more things to do in the area this summer, I have a full guide right here: Best Things to Do in Eau Claire & Chippewa Falls This Summer.
Let’s Talk About Life in the Chippewa Valley 💕
If you are looking for a community where your kids can grow up rooting for each other, where parents actually become your friends, and where summer is something you look forward to all year long, you are going to love it here.
I am Casey Levrich, a REALTOR® with Symple Real Estate in Chippewa Falls. I help families find their way to this area every single year, and I can tell you from personal experience that the community piece is real. It is not a marketing line. It is Tuesday nights at Hallie Park with a Red Bull in your hand, watching your kid take his turn at the plate.
Reach out anytime at caseylevrichrealtor.com or find me on Instagram at @caseylevrich.realtor. Chat soon! 🌸