12-year-old All-Stars head to state years ago
"Play ball!" And that's what the Cotton Valley League 12-year-olds did this last weekend at the Cal-Ripkin District 4 Tournament at Peabody.
The CVL team played 3 preliminary games in the tournament, defeating Newton 18-1, Lyons 5-3, and Great Bend 15-5 to reach the finals. In the finals the CVL team fell to Lyons 4-3. However, since the tournament was double elimination, the CVL team immediately played Lyons again for the championship, defeating them 11-10.
This championship qualifies the local team to compete in the Kansas Cal Ripken State 12-year-old Tournament of Champions this weekend in Louisburg. Last year, most of the members of this same CVL team competed in the Cal Ripken State 11-year-old Tournament at Osawatomie, bringing home 3rd place.
The Cottonwood Valley All-Stars team is a combination of players chosen from Hillsboro, Tampa, Goessel, and Marion. Members of the team are Ben Bebermeyer, Aaron Bina, Tanner Brunner, Dylan Delk, Ben Gardner, Jerod Hamm, Rustyn Kerbs, Tyler Klenda, Matthew Martin, Adam Matz, Darren Mueller, Chance Reece, Tyler Schmidt, and Cole Svoboda. Coaches of the team are Rob Delk, Rod Hamm, and Ray Bina.
The team will leave for the state tournament on Thursday morning and participate in various tournament activities Thursday evening before meeting their host families. The team's first game will be on Friday, with opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m.
