Haysville Baseball

Fall Ball is Near

2010-07-16T23:02:00.000-05:00

As the season winds to a close with state tournaments this weekend and next, it's time to think about getting ready for next year. One of the best ways is to play fall baseball or softball. HASBA's Fall Ball focuses on fundamentals and instruction. We encourage our coaches to get out on the field and provide feedback in a game situation.

For $200, your team will get 8 games over 6 Sunday afternoons. HASBA will provide a home plate umpire, field prep, and baseballs. The home team on the schedule will provide a field umpire. There are no standings kept, no uniforms required, and no individual fees or fundraisers.

If you are interested, please e-mail me at: schedules@haysvilleyouthsports.com.

Two in a Row, a Third Place & Another to State

2010-07-16T22:53:00.000-05:00

Well, what a year it was for our boys. I use "our" dually here to refer to the two boys who live under our roof, as well as the three (or four...or five...or six) teams with which we are affiliated.

The Heaters won their second consecutive division championship with a 17-1 mark in 10U, following up last year's 14-0 run in 8U. This year, however, the Heaters were the second youngest team in the division instead of the second oldest, so the accomplishment of a title against older players is even more impressive. The younger Heaters didn't fare as well on the scoreboard, but as the youngest team in the league by over a year on average, they improved week in and week out and gained considerable experience that would not have been possible in T-Ball.

The 10U team spent preseason practice sharing a field and drills with a newly assembled team, the Havoc. Mike, Todd, Gerald, and Matt did a great job of taking a group of boys and making them into a real team, leading this group to a third-place finish in the division.

While the younger Heaters took their lumps game in and game out, they never quit. Ome of the rewards for the season was the selection of Zach and Zander to one of the 8U teams headed to the State Tournament. As the tournament neared, the other team fell short players and picked up Reece and Xavier. We're thrilled for these four boys and hope this experience makes them better and helps them to encourage their teammates to improve to the point of selection in the next year or two.

9U Game 8: Winfield vs. Haysville

2010-07-11T22:05:00.000-05:00

In a rematch of Friday night's second game, Haysville and Winfield put on a classic show, but it took awhile for the fun to begin. A rested Winfield team playing just their third game in three days came out on fire, scoring five in the first inning on their way to an 11-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. And with a runner on second and two outs, with two strikes and a run-rule victory within Winfield's grasp, Haysville's offense shook off the heat exhaustion and tallied five runs to keep the game going. Adding three more in the fifth after holding Winfield scoreless, the tension built. A single run in the top of the sixth gave Winfield a four-run cushion heading into the home half of the inning. but Haysville didn't have enough left in the tank and stranded the tying and winning runs on base to drop a heartbreaker 12-11.

The win qualifies Winfield for the State Tournament, which begins Friday in Paola.

WOW Award: Blake Wood (Haysville) and Mason Fisher (Winfield)
MVP Award: Jaron Bluejacket (Haysville) and Hayden Gibson (Winfield)

9U Game 7: Haysville vs. Wellington

2010-07-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

Day three leaves us with just three teams. Wellington and Haysville battled to determine which team would get the opportunity to knock of Winfield for a trip to Paola. And for the third straight game, Haysville scored a run-rule shortened victory, knocking Wellington out of the tournament by a score of 15-4. Strong pitching by Haysville, along with an agressive offense put the hosts on top early and often, building a 10-0 lead before Wellington rallied for a run in the fourth to keep the game going into the fifth. A five-run fifth for Haysville proved to be the final dagger as Wellington could only muster three in their half of the inning. With the win, Haysville advances to the Championship bracket against Winfield, while Wellington wraps up the tournament as the second runner-up.

WOW Award: Braden Sanders (Wellington) and Caden Bressler (Haysville)
MVP Award: Dakota Dry (Wellington) and Cooper Ross (Haysville)

District Tournament Notes

2010-07-11T09:25:00.000-05:00

What a great weekend at the ballpark for ten teams. It's been great to see the boys on the field giving it their best efforts to represent their league and make a run at a championship and opportunity for a state tournament berth. However, it's not about championships in youth sports, its about so much more. Here's just a few of the "so much mores:"

Having fun. No matter the score, there's always a kid with a smile on his face on both sides. The comraderie that develops among a group of boys is incredibly fun and that's really where the memories are made. Cunard Cruise lines motto was "Getting there is half the fun." And so it is with sports. In fact, it may be more like 90% of the fun. Especially when you don't know where "there" really is.
Giving your best. I've always told our kids that you play your best baseball in your last game. Our goal is to improve and get better each game, so it follows that we'll play better tomorrow. If you play your best game and you lose, well, you tip your cap to the other team, congratulate them on a great win, and rest knowing that you did your best.
Persevering. It's easy to quit, but kids don't seem to ever want to do that. They want to stay in the game and finish. They want to play another game, even if they know they'll likely lose. They want to get another shot a fielding a ground ball, taking an extra base, or getting another hit. It's really natural, but the lesson learned in sport is that sometimes perseverance pays off immediately and other times the gratification is delayed (If you're the Royals, it's been delayed for 25 years!).

Oh, there's more, but it sure is fun to watch these boys grow and enjoy this greatest of sports. I can't think of anyplace I'd rather be on a weekend in the summer than at the ballpark watching kids trying to figure out how to be successful in a game that demands perfection defensively and celebrates a one-third success rate offensively, to watch them having fun and enjoying being a part of something bigger than themselves, and to see the joy on a parent or grandparent's face with one of their own does something incredible.

I hope that you've enjoyed the tournament and hope that HASBA has the chance to host your team again soon. Have a great summer.

9U Game 6: Rose Hill vs. Haysville

2010-07-11T01:23:00.001-05:00

The final game of day 2 is another elimination game. Haysville survived their first one earlier today, while Rose Hill is coming off of their first loss of the tournament to Wellington in today's first game.

Haysville pitching dominated this one, with Caden Bressler and Drew Brunecz combining to allow two hits in the four-inning, run-rule shortened contest. On the other side of the coin, Haysville scored five in each of the last three innings after a two-run first to put this one away 17-4. Haysville survives a second elimination game and will play Welllington tomorrow at 1:00 for the right to play Winfield in the Championship bracket.

WOW Award: Grant Adler (Rose Hill) and Brock Hudson (Haysville)
MVP Award: Jake Karsak (Rose Hill) and Kai Rhea (Haysville)

9U Game 5: Winfield vs. Wellington

2010-07-11T01:16:00.000-05:00

Back to the winner's bracket for this one. And it's hot today...as baseball should be in early July in Kansas.

Wellington struggled early in this one, unable to get anything consistent going on offense, while Winfield plated four in the first two innings. Wellington finally managed three runs in the top of the third to pull within one, but Winfield answered with a pair of runs to push the lead back to three. Single runs in the fourth and fifth for Wellington weren't enough as Winfield plated two and five in those innings to take command of this one. Winfield's win puts them in the Championship bracket needing just one win to advance to the state tournament. Wellington will play the winner of Haysville and Rose Hill tomorrow at 1:00.

WOW Award: Mason Fisher (Winfield) and Julian Jimenez (Wellington)
MVP Award: Tyler Randall (Winfield) and Jack Nuss (Wellington)

9U Game 4: Haysville vs. Douglass

2010-07-11T01:10:00.000-05:00

Game 4 brings us to elimination time: Win, you play another game. Lose and your season is over.

Haysville scored five runs in each of the first two innings to build a 9-run lead and it appeared the rout was on. But Douglass notched five of their own in the top of the third to pull within four and held Haysville scoreless in a three up, three down half inning. Two more runs in the top of the fourth made the score 10-8 and this game appeared to be another tight one. However, the Haysville nine notched another five-run inning in the bottom of four to extend the lead to seven. After Blake Wood, who came in as a relief pitcher in the third, struck out the side to strand two runners in the top of the fifth, Haysville plated three runs to end the game at 18-8 and extend their tournament. The host team survives to play another and will do so at 8:00 against Rose Hill.

WOW Award: Cody Stephen (Haysville) and Kaden Pichler (Douglass)
MVP Award: Crew Squires (Haysville) and Kolby Castner (Douglass)

9U Game 3: Rose Hill vs. Wellington

2010-07-11T00:58:00.000-05:00

Day two of the District 3 tournament welcomed Rose Hill to The Ballfields @ Nelson Park to take on Wellington, winners of their first game last night against Douglass. Wellington's greeting for the Gunners from Rose Hill was anything but welcoming. Jumping out to an early 10-1 lead, Wellington cruised home for a five-inning 19-9 win and a spot against Winfield in the winner's bracket. Rose Hill next plays Haysville at 8:00 in an elimination game.

WOW Award: Konner Barron (Rose Hill) and Matthew Rinehart (Wellington)
MVP Award: Dylan Sapp (Rose Hill) and Cole Parmley (Wellington)

9U Game 2: Winfield vs. Haysville

2010-07-10T13:19:00.001-05:00

The evening's second game lived up to the standard set by game one. Haysville jumped on top in the second inning with a pair of runs on an RBI single by Jaron Bluejacket, but Winfield responded with four in the top of the third courtesy of a pair of Haysville errors and three consecutive RBI singles by Mason Fisher, Nate Adler, and Hayden Gibson. Winfield added three more in the fourth to take a five-run lead, but Haysville answered the call by plating five in the bottom of the inning behind RBI singles by Cooper Page and Austin Wilson sandwiching a two-run RBI by Caden Bressler. Neither team would score in the fifth, but Winfield plated two in the top of the sixth to grab the lead. Haysville had the winning run at the plate, but Nate Adler got the strikeout to help Winfield advance to the 6:00 game tomorrow against the winner of the 1:30 Rose Hill/Wellington contest. Haysville will play Douglass at 3:30 in an elimination game.

WOW Award: Jaron Bluejacket (Haysville) and Hayden Gibson (Winfield)
MVP Award: Caden Bressler (Haysville) and Nate Adler (Winfield)

9U Game 1: Wellington vs. Douglass

2010-07-10T13:07:00.003-05:00

What an opening game of this District 3 Tournament! Five runs in the first and third for Douglass sandwiched by a three-run inning gave the Purples a 6-run cushion at the game's midpoint. The fifth inning was the turning point for Wellington: nine men to the plate and five runs to pull within two, followed by three strikeouts from Matthew Rinehart put the momentum in the visitor's dugout. Wellington would go on to add three runs in the fifth to take the lead and hold Douglass scoreless the rest of the way to take game one 14-13. Wellington will play the 1:30 contest tomorrow against Rose Hill. Douglass will play an elimination game against Haysville at 3:30.

WOW Award: Jack Nuss (Wellington) and Owen Porter (Douglass)
MVP Award: Matthew Rinehart (Wellington) and Kaden Pichler (Douglass)

District Tournament Time

2010-07-06T00:52:00.003-05:00

HASBA is set to host the 9U and 10U Cal Ripken District 3 Baseball Tournaments beginning Friday, July 9 at The Ballfields @ Nelson Park. Each division consists of five teams from the south-central Kansas area, with the winner of the double-elimination bracket advancing to the state tournaments the following weekend. The 9U State Tournament of Champions will be held in Paola, while Wellington will host the 10U State Tournament.

The 9U Tournament begins Friday at 6P, with Wellington and Douglass squaring off on Field 2. Thirty minutes later the 10U Tournament gets underway on Field 1 as Wellington takes on Haysville. The nightcap for the 9U bracket features Winfield and Haysville, while Rose Hill and Clearwater close out the 10U division for the evening. Rose Hill's 9U team will play on Saturday morning against the winner of the Wellington/Douglass game, while Oxford's 10's await the Wellington/Haysville winner.

For a complete tournament schedule and subsequent results, please click on the Kansas Cal Ripken District 3 link on the right side of the page or on the tournament bracket page for your team's age division. Check back for updates shortly after each game, as this promises to be a great weekend of baseball at Nelson Park.

Change Up Maturation

2010-06-30T23:45:00.000-05:00

It seems that the change up has become lost in today's baseball of faster pitches, bigger bats, and more runs. Everyone marvels at the kid who can throw 5-8 mph faster than other kids his age. And if a kid has some movement to that pitch or can somehow throw a breaking pitch, it's all that much better...or so they say. If you listen around the game, you'll hear people talking about pitching like it's real estate: location, location, location. You don't want to buy a $5,000 house in a million dollar neighborhood, nor do you want a million dollar home in a $5,000 neighborhood. Location is important, but the ability to change speeds is what really keeps a batter off balance. I don't care if your fastball is 34 or 94. If you can take 10 mph off with the same arm motion, you can fool hitters. And if you get the change over for a strike, it makes your fastball look that much faster. It takes a ton of patience, discipline, and practice for a hitter to stay back on a pitch and wait, especially when you're behind in the count. A good pitcher gets ahead in the count and then, when the hitter expects a fastball or is out in front on a foul, puts the ball back in the hand and drops the slow one by him, either feeling the breeze of the bat or hearing the sweet cry of an umpire's strike call. When you've developed the ability to throw an effective change up, you've grown up from just throwing to really pitching.

Run, Forrest, Run

2010-06-22T12:22:00.000-05:00

All too often, players don't run full-speed to and through first base, giving up on a pop-up, "knowing" that they'll be thrown out by a weak grounder, or assuming a ball foul. This is something that we preach consistently to our players, regardless of score or situation and PRACTICE. Run hard to and through the bag. This summer, I started keeping statistics on this piece of the game during our 18-game league schedule (which was only 17 games due to a forfeit at the end). In 17 games, our boys reached base safely 14 times by hustling to first when they would have been out had they given up or not sprinted. A bobble here, a double-clutch there, an arcing throw or two and viola! Fourteen extra baserunners just by hustling. That's nearly one per game. And here's what's more: 12 of those became runs. And one of those runs came in an 8-7 come-from-behind win. You can have speed, but without hustle, it doesn't do much good.

Lineup consistency and equality

2010-06-15T11:56:00.000-05:00

Setting the line up is one of the key items for a coach. Knowing which players fit where and having the understanding of the game and your opponent factor into the construction of a line up. Having said that, if you coach players at 12 or younger, throw all that out of the window. At the younger ages, hitting is all about instruction and opportunity. If you settle on one lineup and keep your leadoff hitter the same each game, that player will get 16 more plate appearances over the course of a 16-game season than will your hitters who are routinely in the bottom of the order. That equates to 4-6 more games of plate appearances, depending on age level and time restrictions in your league. Add a few tournaments and the disparity grows.

Once we set our lineup in April, it remains the same for the entire season. You'll always bat after the same player (unless he's gone). And if you're on-deck at the end of a game, you're leading off the next game. Over the course of the season, nearly every player gets to bat leadoff and bat last. It's amazing what the player you consider your weakest hitter can do if he hits third in the lineup.

It's quite simple and makes filling our your lineup card easy. Plus, it's equitable to your players, all of whom likely paid the same amount to be a part of your team. As an added bonus, your players will be less likely to bat out of order, since they are always following the same player.

HASBA Preseason Tournament

2010-04-21T22:52:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning, the season officially gets underway for six 10U Boys' teams from South Central Kansas in the HASBA Preseason Tournament. Teams participating in this year's field include Rose Hill, Wellington, Oxford, and three HASBA teams: the Bonecrushers, the Stampede, and the Heaters.

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

8:00:    Pool A: Wellington @ Bonecrushers
10:00: Pool B: Heaters @ Oxford
Noon: Pool A: Bonecrushers @ Stampede
2:00:    Pool B: Oxford @ Rose Hill
4:00:    Pool A: Stampede @ Wellington
6:00:    Pool B: Rose Hill @ Heaters

The tournament will conclude on Sunday, beginning with the third place teams in each pool playing at 10 AM, followed by semifinal games at noon and 2:00, before the championship game briefly following the last semifinal. Come on out and watch the young guys get their season started at Nelson Park in Haysville.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

2010-04-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

It's here! It's finally here. We're headed to the Eck tonight to watch the local college team play the nationally-ranked K-State Wildcats! 70+ tickets for Heaters and Havoc players and families at one of college baseball's best facilities to watch this intra-state rivalry. My guys are excited as punch and I'm sure that their teammates are as well to see the big kids play on the big field.

Stay tuned for pictures of this great event.

Bare Hand Grounders

2010-04-17T10:03:00.002-05:00

One of the best ways to teach younger players (I define younger players as anyone who hasn't retired from the game) to have soft hands and field the ball properly is to take ground balls with bare hands. You can do this with tennis balls, RIF balls, or even baseballs so long as your fungo hitter doesn't put any mustard on the ball. To catch a ball without a glove requires two hands, a key element in becoming a successful fielder regardless of position. It also teaches players to receive the ball rather than stabbing at it as they might with a glove. When doing this drill with a team, I recommend a small group with a throw to 1B following. Help the players to move their feet to center up on the ball (see it, move to it, catch it) make the catch, and then get the proper footwork for the throw to first.

Short to the Ball

2010-04-16T10:11:00.000-05:00

If you listen, you'll hear it often around guys who know how to hit: "Short to the ball." As I was leaving practice the other night, I had a Dad from the T-ball team practicing on the neighboring field corner me and ask me what that meant. I explained that we want our hitters to take their hands from ready position to the hitting zone as quickly as possible, which means the hands must come at an angle from above the back shoulder to in front of the front hip in a line, which is the shortest distance, hence the term "short." The reminder also serves to players who get into the bad habit of dropping their hands to start the swing (dragging) or throwing their hands out over the plate early (casting). A proper swing should be short, with the hands coming down toward the inside of the baseball.

Practice Scheduling is Vital

2010-04-09T15:51:00.000-05:00

Too often, coaches practice with players the way their coaches conducted practice. One player does the drill while the others stand around and watch, especially when it comes to the hitting aspect of practice. However, this mindset transcends into fielding as well, as drills are often conducted with players in position and one baseball. This type of schedule give kids few opportunities to practice the skill.

100 cuts a day
In my prior life as a high school coach, I was visiting with a coach from another school who asked how it was I got my kids to hit so well. I told him that each boy took 100 cuts every day in practice. His jaw dropped open and then, bewildered, he asked how long we practiced. My response: about two-and-a-half hours. "How?" I invited him to come to a practice and learn by seeing what I had done two years prior.

Stations that allow two, or at most three, players to perform a skill for a specified period of time, followed by rotation from station to station until all players have been through each station. For instance, let's look at hitting for a team of 25 players. Establish 11 groups of 2 and 1 group of 3 (put a proficient kid with two inexperienced players in the group of 3). You'll need 12 stations to keep each group busy.

Station 1: Grip & Stance
Station 2: Hands back and knee turn
Station 3: Hip turn
Station 4: Dry Swing
Station 5: Top Hand
Station 6: Bottom Hand
Station 7: Soft-toss (outside)
Station 8: Soft-toss (middle)
Station 9: Soft-toss (inside)
Station 10: Noncasting
Station 11: Nondragging
Station 12: Short-screen strikes

About 2 minutes per station with 30 seconds transition totals 30 minutes. Each player should get 90-100 total cuts from station 4-12 during this time. Compare this to a "typical" practice session where a player gets 10-15 cuts in the same time frame and you're looking at 2-3 thousand more cuts for kids over the course of a 30-practice season.

The same concept works for fielding, too. For players to sit and watch other players practice a skill wastes time and frankly, it's boring. If catchers, pitchers, third-basemen and first-basemen are working on bunts, have your second-basemen and shortstops work on communication and balls up the middle, while your outfielders work on balls at the fence.

Practice scheduling takes time, but it makes practice valuable for your players and reduces the stress on game day worrying about whether your players are prepared for every situation.

Fundamental: 5-Step Throwing

2010-03-07T23:12:00.004-06:00

How do you throw a baseball? Seems pretty simple until you break the motion down into components. This post walks you through teaching the 5-step throwing process. You'll find several such posts online and they're all pretty much the same. Mine's a little different because I don't have players get on their knees. It's not comfortable, it's often wet, and well, I just never liked doing it that way. Doesn't make it right, just different. If you're sold on the traditional start with the knee on the ground, do it. I'm not going to pass judgment on you, especially since I've taught many players to do it that way.

Grip

See the fundamental entry on the grip and the pictures to the right. Since the shortest distance from the fielder to the intended target is a line, the ball arrives faster if players use a proper (4-seam) grip. This is a good "bus" drill (I use the term bus from my time as a HS baseball coach, but you can substitute "Tahoe," "Expedition," or "Van". Heck you can do this on the couch while watching your favorite team play).

Work Backward
Start from the finish and teach the throw as a reverse chain. Build muscle memory from the last phase and kids are likely to get their arms and bodies in that position when they begin to piece the phases together.

The Finish (Step 5): Focus is on releasing the ball with backspin
Players begin with a partner and stand no more than five feet apart. Player 1 holds the ball up and in front of his head so that he can see it, with the finger-side of his glove on his glove-hand chest. This is the release point. No elbow bend here, but wrist cocked back. Remember this is the end of the throw. Player 2 holds his glove at knee level, palm up to catch the ball. Player 1 simply flicks his wrist toward Player 2, releasing the ball with backspin and finishing with his throwing hand down by his opposite knee. Unless Player 1 is bending his elbow, there should be little speed on this ball, but a noticeable amount of backspin. If you have 50/50 balls, this is a great place to allow players to see the correct spin. Have the players repeat this drill about 5 times each.

Tilt the Table (Step 4): Focus is on front elbow going down and front shoulder staying closed.
Players move backward so the distance between them is about 10 feet. If you start your season in a gym, it's the basketball lane. If you're lucky enough to be outside, get some cones, spray a line on the grass, or use an old garden hose. Just make sure the guys aren't 200 feet away chucking the pill like they're Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Bo Jackson, or Vlad Guerrero. Get them to the set table position (front elbow pointed at the target, glove hanging down; back elbow above the shoulder, fingers to the sky with thumb underneath). If you're using a 50/50 ball, the player should be able to look back and up and see the line between his fingers (we call this "checking" the ball). The front elbow should come down and the glove should tuck finger-side to the chest, while the back elbow comes over the top, allowing the player to get his body into the previous position to release the ball. I take some extra time here to explain the difference between "tilt" and "turn." Turning indicates a front side opening up and more of a sidearm motion, resulting in an off-target throw being wide one way or another. Tilting the table, however, results in an over-the-top motion, resulting in an off-target throw being in the dirt or over your head. We can block a throw in dirt, so the latter is a better option than the former.

Do the Shuffle (Step 3): Focus is on moving toward the target.
Have players stand 20-25 feet apart (more for HS players). Get players to the set table position with the body turned parallel to the target line, lead foot pointed toward the target. Players should shuffle once toward the target (drive off first with back foot) and then tilt the table and finish, ending at the opposite knee.

Glove to Table (Step 2): Focus is on getting ball from glove to set table position quickly with proper grip.
Players should stand with glove-hand foot just behind a turned plant foot and ball in glove. While stepping forward with the lead foot, the ball should come out of the glove by the hip or thigh (thumb to thigh) and then up to the set table position. Grip and elbows up, especially the back elbow, is the key here. Check the ball, then shuffle, tilt the table, and finish.

Field to Open (Step 1): Focus is on catching and getting initial placement of plant foot.
The player should field the ball by centering his body on the ball's path. Once the ball is secure in the glove, the player should take a short step with the throwing-side foot, turning it perpendicular to the target line with the heel a few inches in front of the glove-side toe. The two feet should form a 90-degree angle. Once the step is made, move from glove to table, shuffle, tilt the table, and finish.

Sign-ups are here

2010-03-07T11:02:00.000-06:00

It's time to sign up for 2010 summer baseball and softball. Sign-ups began yesterday and will also be held the next two Saturdays at Rex Elementary from 9A - 3P and on the next two Thursdays at Nelson Elementary from 6P - 9P.

Online Sign-ups this year
New this year is the option of signing up online. Just go to http://www.hasbainc.com/ and click on the Online Signups link on the bulletin board. Not only does the online signup mean you don't need to fill out a form and wait to have someone enter it, it also allows you to pay by credit or debit card (Babe Ruth charges a convenience fee of $1 per transaction plus 5% of the total).

Why I Love Baseball, part 2

2010-03-06T13:00:00.000-06:00

Baseball ended all too early for me as a player. K-18 was our highest level of ball, ending at age 16. If you wanted to play beyond that, you had to drive to Goodland (40 minutes) or Colby (60 minutes) to join their team. And that was just for practices and home games. Road games took you up to 3 hours from home. With a farm and crop dusting business, my dad didn't think twice about squelching that kind of talk. And, looking back, I can't blame him. So, in the summer of 1984, I played my last game in Trenton, Nebraska. Baseball was over. Kind of a bummer, but that's the way life goes sometimes.

Fast-forward nine years, a bachelor's degree, and a teaching job in southeast Kansas. A little 3A high school without a baseball program, but a committed group of parents and boys with a strong desire to get into the fastest-growing sport in the state at that time. And so, with 28 boys, a dirt infield, and a 300-foot outfield fence, we began. For the boys, it was just baseball. But for me, it was the rekindling of a love for this game. I was the manager, asst. coach, groundskeeper, and statistician. My first year's salary was spent on equipment for the team because my budget was a mere $500, which was barely enough to purchase game balls. I can still name the boys who played for us: Courtney, Justin, Matt, Luther, Casey, Brian, Jeff, Max, Jason, Burt, Harley, Brandon, John, Chris, and Davey. Yep, that was the core of the first team. Again, can't tell you a single score for sure, but we got better everyday and went from no program to a #1 ranking in just thee short years. This group just never could get over the top and win a regional tournament (mostly due to coaching, I suppose), but I often recall fondly the long practices, bus rides, bat runs (me included), and the great young men who gave their all to make YC Baseball the best.

More of life's turns led me away from a direct connection to the game, then back in, then back out, teasing my love for this game. So some twenty years after my last game, I took my oldest son to the YMCA as a 3-year old to play t-ball. And I've been with it since. This summer will begin yet another team with my youngest son right here at HASBA.

I believe strongly that baseball teaches boys patience. It teaches them that every player, regardless of position, is incredibly valuable to the whole (which is hard to do when they watch ESPN and the focus is always on pitchers and home run hitters). It teaches boys that perseverace pays off, but usually not immediately. It teaches boys that hard work is what it takes to make it to the top, not God-given ability or a cool uniform. And, most important of all, it teaches boys that losing goes hand in hand with winning, something that other sports sometimes leave out at the youth level. Oh, and one more thing: it doesn't matter if you're short or tall, fast or slow, skinny or stocky. If you are coachable and determined, there is a place for you in baseball.

Fall Ball

2009-09-06T23:40:00.004-05:00

Some of us just don't get enough baseball. And that's a good thing!

After a few weeks off, baseball and softball return to Nelson fields next Sunday. Five girls' teams and six boys' teams will play six games over the next six weeks. The focus is on fundamental instruction and innings. Team rosters are minimal, practices are optional (some teams don't practice), and uniforms are whatever's in your closet.

It all gets started next Sunday at 2:00 on Nelson fields. We still have a few open spots, but they are limited to 10-14 girls and 8-10 boys. If you have questions or need more information, please contact us at info@hasbainc.com or call us at 390-8551.

Fundamental: Grip

2009-08-15T11:51:00.009-05:00

Success in baseball is often discussed in regard to offensive statistics. However, games are won and lost based on accuracy of throws. Yes, fielders must catch the ball. But all of the catches in the world won't matter if the following throw doesn't meet its target. So what can coaches and parents do for players to improve their ability to throw? The answer, as always, is a focus on fundamentals. You've heard that practice makes perfect. However, the unwritten understanding is that practicing correctly makes perfect.

So what are the fundamentals of throwing? First is a proper grip. Players must learn to grip the ball across the seams with two fingers (three for the smaller hands in T-Ball and even some players in 8U) with the edge of the thumb on the underside of the ball, preferably on the opposite side of the ball on a seam. This is known as a 4-seam grip. Q: Does it really matter? What happens if I don't use a 4-seam grip?

A: A 4-seam grip ensures that the ball, as it spins against the air, will have seams coming in contact with the air at equal intervals. The benefits are that:

the the ball will be less likely to sink or tail
the ball will "ride" the air and thus stay aloft longer
the ball is more likely to stay on target when it strikes the playing surface, and
the ball will travel faster.

Q: How can I teach my youngster how to properly grip the ball? There isn't enough time during a play to look at the ball to ensure a proper grip. Are there drills he/she can do?

A: The best way is to simply toss the ball into the air, catch it in the glove (with two hands, of course), and reach into the glove and feel the seams. With practice, you can quickly get the ball from the glove to the throwing position with a 4-seam grip.

Another method that I use with our players is to utilize a 50-50 ball. Buy a dozen real-leather, quality baseballs and a big, black, permanent marker. Color half of the baseball black, using the line through the four-seam as the center. I use a thick rubber band to mark the center line. It makes it quick to see proper grip for both the player and the coaches. This little investment also pays off when progressing through the remainder of the throwing drills.

Q: How tightly should players hold the ball?

A: The rule of thumb is to hold it like you're holding an egg. The more space between your palm and the ball, the better. The separation for little guys is tough, so I wouldn't get too worried about it. Finger position and pressure is more important at the younger ages. To test finger pressure, have the player hold the ball as shown in the first picture above. You should be able to lightly grasp the ball from below and gently pull it out of his hands.

Tournament Wrap

2009-08-06T07:33:00.008-05:00

Everyone is back home, the trophies placed on bedroom shelves, medals hung on dresser drawers or door knobs, certificates framed and displayed. It was a great tournament and a great time to get together to celebrate youth and baseball, especially with the terrific weather over the weekend. So, I'm closing this phase of the blog and moving on to fall baseball on the local level. But before I do, some reflection on this truly remarkable weekend of baseball.

Inspiration

A bunch of folks from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan traveled nearly 1,500 miles for a three-game guarantee. It sure was nice to see them get to play five. And the exciting way their season ended was a thrill for those boys and their families. A huge win on Sunday evening against Paola and then a huge comeback on Monday afternoon against Sterling capped what appeared to be a great weekend for our guests from Canada (I think the appearance fallacy doesn't apply here). One of our favorite players in the tournament was Austin Luciw. Hobbled by a pair of fractured ankles that didn't heal correctly, this young man showed his skill and was a spark plug for this team all weekend with his hustle, solid play, and great attitude. On Saturday, he was awarded the WOW award for an amazing diving catch in left field. At our state tournaments, Paul awards a player the AHHP award, which stands for Attitude, Hustle, Hustle, and Pride. If that award was available for this tournament, I believe that this young man would be a strong candidate. What a competitor!

Fun Regardless

Sterling, Colorado, a little town on the high plains of Northeast Colorado, brought their band of Plainsmen, their laid-back dads and their energetic, dancing moms. These guys played hard and were fun to watch. Their families joined in on all of the fun and appeared to enjoy every minute of the tournament experience. Sterling's crowd was easily the most vocal and participatory group in the tournament, but did so with a measure of class and respect for the game that matched their team's play on the field. Sterling was awarded the Sportsmanship award along with Saskatoon. As we host tournaments in the future, we'll refer to the sheer fun that this group had while watching their boys play their hearts out in this last tournament of the season. In fact, we were so entertained by the antics of this group, we often invited them to come and help root on other teams who didn't have as large of a following and needed some excitement in their crowd. Unfortunately, Riley's mom suffered an injury on Monday during one of these between game good times, but refused to go to the ER. Now we know why these boys are as tough as they are.

Hot Doggity

Charles Wilson was our HASBA volunteer that kept folks involved and created a festive atmosphere, especially when some of the games became lopsided. Folks did bat runs and we all laughed, players and coaches included. Assistant coaches entertained us with a hot dog eating contest. Jeff Luciw from Saskatoon set a tournament record, devouring a quarter-pound Nathan's hot dog in a mere 14 seconds. It was equally gross and amazing. The second closest time was 33 seconds. So Jeff gets a virtual WOW award for his feat.

Unsung Heroes

I know that this piece has been a hit. Kids racing to the computer in the hotel to see their name on the tournament blog, family and friends from afar getting a glimpse into the tournament and the kids who play just as hard as their teammates who might be more skilled or make an amazing play by being in the right spot and ready when the opportunity comes along. Today's list is a little shorter, as only four teams remain, but these kids deserve some mention.

I haven't counted to be sure, but Saskatoon's Derek Duquette had to lead this tournament in drawing walks. This guy always seemed to be able to get on base and help his team put runs on the board, which was vital on Monday evening in the third place game. Derek also played a solid center field in all five games, holding runners from extra bases and keeping the force in order at second routinely.

Players who know and accept a role are always a huge, but often overlooked part of championship teams. Dalton Davis of Sikeston is one of those players. He doesn't play every inning of every game, but he sure knows what to do when he gets into the game. I watched this young man during the tournament and he was always quick to be positive with his teammates, even in those games where he served as a pinch hitter or pinch runner.

The anchor of a team is often the guy in the dish. One of the best in this bunch is Holden Mayberry from Mineral Area. This guy did a great job all tournament long behind the plate. There is an adage that unnoticed catchers are the ones who best do their job. Holden is one of those catchers. He simply caught nearly everything that was thrown at him and made such good throws to second after warming up the pitcher that teams just didn't run on him. I like catchers like that.

Finally, there's Colton Shalla from Sterling. Yes, I know, he did get a WOW Award, but this young man's spirit certainly held this team together. I talk to young men all the time about being "Glue" players, those guys who hold a team together and who can't afford to have anything other than a positive attitude. Colton is one of those kids. A fractured arm of the team's best pitcher (that was his coach's description) kept him out of the lineup for the tournament, but not from having an impact on his teammates. Every team needs a kid like Colton Shalla, arm in a cast or not.

Sliding in to Home

Well, this is a wrap. Thanks for coming along for the ride. I'm sure there are mistakes in these posts somewhere. So if you find one, please let me know. I'll be glad to correct it so that you have the most accurate record of the tournament possible. Much of what's here was done from memory after watching over 20 innings of baseball everyday and learning all of these great names from across the region. If you have any questions, just e-mail us at info@hasbainc.com.

Thanks again.

Phil

Lost and Found

2009-08-05T18:42:00.003-05:00

Hey, did you arrive back home without something that you know you took to the tournament? There is a chance that we might have it. We found a lot of things left at the park and have them on hand for immediate shipping. So, if you lost something, just drop us a line at info@hasbainc.com.

All-Tournament Team

2009-08-04T06:15:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to the 2009 Cal Ripken 9 & Under Midwest Plains Regional All-Tournament Team

Tristan Bigham	Cimmaron River
Sam Angel	Southeast Denver
Tanner Robin	Saskatoon
Jared Jones	Mineral Area
Fred Thatch	Sikeston
Riley Schaefer	Sterling
Kale Clark	Paola
Caden Bressler	Haysville
Will Pratt	Sikeston
Caden Wagner	Sterling
Briley Smith	Mineral Area
Austin Luciw	Saskatoon
Kurt Golubski	Paola
Nick Smith	Southeast Denver
Thien Gamble	Saskatoon
Trae Robinson	Mineral Area
Dylan Santomaso	Sterling
Austin Branch	Sikeston
Kolten Poorman	Mineral Area
Kurt Deaton, Coach	Cimmaron River
Dickson Robin, Coach	Saskatoon
Jamey Mack, Coach	Sterling

Finality Finally

2009-08-04T01:11:00.003-05:00

It was a fun five days of baseball and boys in Haysville. We certainly enjoyed being host to seven visiting teams and their families and hope that your experience in Haysville is one that you'll remember for years to come. Sixteen games over a four-day stretch was simply a blast. We met so many wonderful people from Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Saskatchewan who made a huge commitment of time and money to make the journey from hundreds of miles away to watch their little guys play baseball. It is our sincere hope that your investment paid off in the experience gained for your son and your family. Thank you so very much for coming to Haysville!

Congratulations to Sikeston, Missouri for their 7-5 win over Mineral Area, Missouri in the Championship game to claim the 2009 Cal Ripken Midwest Plains Regional Tournament Title.

Also, congratulations to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Sterling, Colorado for being tabbed for the Sportsmanship Award.

I'm back to work today, but I'll get the final day information, including the All-tourament team posted later today. If you have any questions or comments on how we can make the tournament experience better, please let us know by leaving a comment on this post or send an e-mail to info@hasbainc.com.

Thanks again. Travel home safely and take a rest for a few weeks before school starts later this month.

Sikeston Holds on for Title

2009-08-03T23:50:00.000-05:00

Final Score

Sikeston 7
Mineral Area 5

When you get to the end of the season, you simply want to play your best and leave that effort on the field. Tonight, both teams did exactly that and the fans got a treat of a Championship game that lived up to expectations.

For the first four innings, Sikeston controlled this game behind a dominant pitching performance by Jarred Sandlin. The right-hander stifled the Mineral Area attack with a 50+ mph fastball and the occasional change-up, keeping hitters off balance while his teammates built a six-run lead behind solid hitting and aggressive base running.

Mineral Area, down 5-0 early, turned quickly to the lefty, Dillion Manion. Manion kept his team in the game for the rest of the way, returning the hitting frustration to the Sikeston batters. Meanwhile, Mineral Area chipped away at the Sikeston lead and had the tying run on base in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to overcome the early deficit, and Sikeston hung on to claim the tournament title.

MVP Awards: Dillon Manion (Mineral Area) and Jarred Sandlin (Sikeston)

WOW Awards: Jace Bland & Briley Simth (Mineral Area) and Austin Branch (Sikeston)

Game 15: Saskatoon vs. Sterling

2009-08-03T19:30:00.000-05:00

Final Score

Saskatoon 19
Sterling 18

Third place games come in two flavors: Yuck! and Wow! This was a Wow! game. In fact, from a fan standpoint, it was the best game of the tournament. With nothing to lose and a game for fun, both teams played their hearts out. This was fun and one of those games, regardless of who you were rooting for, you had to enjoy and tip your caps to both teams of boys for a tremendous effort.

Sterling put up an 8-spot in the first inning. Saskatoon battled right back and notched six in the next half. And so it was a back and forth game right down to the last half inning with Sterling threatening, but unable to forge a tie and keep the season going.

As a tournament committee, we fell in love with these two teams. Both are solid fundamentally, both have coaches and fans who are knowledgeable, supportive, and friendly, and both have kids who just never quit. A couple of teams who came to this tournament not really knowing what to expect, but looking to play ball and have fun. Mission accomplished, especially when you're playing on day four.

MVP Awards: Bodie Hume (Sterling) and Owen Lindberg (Saskatoon)

WOW Awards: Chase Powell (Sterling) and Julian Sanderson (Saskatoon)

Game 14: Mineral Area vs. Sterling

2009-08-03T17:00:00.002-05:00

Final Score

Mineral Area 10
Sterling 0

Mineral Area made quick work of Sterling to set up a rematch of the Missouri State Championship from two weeks ago. Sterling had a tough time solving the pitching of Trae Robinson as the big right-hander worked quickly and benefited from an outstanding defensive effort, the kind that we've come to expect from the navy and columbia clad Missourians.

MVP Awards: Drew Book (Sterling) and Trae Robinson (Mineral Area)

WOW Awards: Austin Nelson (Sterling) and Dillon Manion (Mineral Area)

Sterling will play after a short break against Saskatoon to determine third place, while Mineral Area will get an opportunity to exact a measure of revenge against Sikeston, who claimed the Missouri title two weeks ago.

Game 13: Sikeston vs. Saskatoon

2009-08-03T14:00:00.001-05:00

Final Score

Saskatoon 0
Sikeston 11

A nine-run first inning set the tone for this one, as Sikeston cruised into tonight’s final, 11-0. Will Pratt went 3-3 and drove in two to set the tone for Sikeston. Will Gilmer and Austin Branch combined for a 2-hit shutout, as only one Stinger baserunner advanced past second base.

Saskatoon, who had a huge win over Paola last night just didn’t seem to be in sync today, lacking an energy that led to a big win just hours earlier.

MVP Awards: Nolan Zerr (Saskatoon) and Will Pratt (Sikeston)

WOW Awards: Eli Leiffers (Saskatoon) and Noah Brown (Sikeston)

Saskatoon will play in the 5:15 contest to determine third place against the loser of Sterling and Mineral Area. Sikeston takes on the winner of that game at 7:30 to determine the Championship.

Day Three Insights

2009-08-02T23:59:00.002-05:00

Four teams are moving on to Monday, while four teams saw their season come to an end today. We say goodbye to Cimmaron River (1-2), Haysville (0-3), Paola (1-2), and Southeast Denver (1-2). Cimmaron River and Haysville were eliminated based on number of wins. Paola and Southeast Denver were eliminated based on a tie-breaker with Saskatoon based on runs allowed. On behalf of HASBA, I say thank you to each of these teams for making the time and financial effort to come to Haysville for four days and play ball. A special thanks goes to Cimmaron River for getting their boys together and making all of the travel arrangements on two days of notice.

Bracket Play

This has been a good tournament thus far. Today, it promises to get better. Sterling plays Mineral Area at noon, followed by Saskatoon and Sikeston at 2:15. The consolation game is at 5:15 and the Championship game at 7:30.

Unsung Heroes

Mineral Area is a solid team. I like their attitude and their effort. These boys are well-coached and fun to watch. One of my favorite players is Jake Sullens. This young man pitched a very nice game in pool play and came off of the bench today, providing some rest to a teammate and the defense didn't skip a beat.

Will Hennes from Southeast Denver had a great tournament. This guy is consistent. He isn't flashy, but he is always where he needs to be and does a nice job at the plate, too.

Sterling's Will Gebhart, who typically plays left field for the Plainsmen, is another guy in that same mold. He's an offensive spark from the two spot and has a nice arm, holding would-be doubles to long singles.

Sikeston is a team loaded with talent. I like Noah Brown. He doesn't stand out, but he's one of those dependable guys who gets to the routine balls and makes good decisions. He's solid at the plate and smart on the base paths.

In each tournament, there is a kid who becomes a crowd favorite. This year, it seems to be Nolan Zerr from Saskatoon. This little guy is a rock at third base and provides remarkable consistency from the six-slot. He's become one of my favorites, that's for sure. To top it off, he's confident and humble at the same time. I like that in ball players.

Tanner Schlesener from Paola gets on my favorite list, too. He's one of those gritty players who always hustles and never gives up. He's in the game, both physically and mentally, from warmups to snacks. Plus, I love his name (pronounced Shesh-ner); It's just a good baseball name.

Haysville's Jonathan Mitchell didn't get much time in this tournament, but he always seemed to put the bat on the ball and hit it hard somewhere. He's got a nice glove and a pretty strong arm from left side of the diamond.

A little guy in the middle of the diamond who makes the plays that he's supposed to make is crucial. Elijah McCarter from Cimmaron River fills that requirement. He's a tough competitor who gives it his all and always has a smile on his face.

Winners and Losers

There are teams that must lose. It's part of the game. However, the boys who made it here are winners. Each and every one of them has been party to an experience they may never get again. Sure, we'd like to believe that we'll all be together again in another town in a summer or two, but we just don't know. Baseball is a fickle game. A bad half inning here, a dominant pitcher there, and you're done a game earlier, a tournament earlier. It's just the way it is. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Game 12: Haysville vs. Cimmaron River

2009-08-02T22:00:00.000-05:00

Final Score

Cimmaron River 10
Haysville 4

Tristen Bigham was the story of the night. Bigham scattered six hits and struck out 11 for the complete-game victory. His battery mate, Christian Hernandez went 4-4 with six RBI to lead the Rattler attack.

Haysville was led by Dakota Smith's 3-3 performance and a strong pitching performance by Caden Bressler, who gave up one earned run and struck out six.

MVP Awards: Dakota Smith (Haysville) and Tristan Bigham (Cimmaron River)

WOW Awards: Christian Sprayberry (Haysville) and Christian Hernandez (Cimmaron River)

Game 11: Saskatoon vs. Paola

2009-08-02T19:30:00.001-05:00

Final Score

Saskatoon 27
Paola 13

Wow! Saskatoon came out of the gates swinging and plated ten in the top of the first got Paola to go three up, three down and, well you know the appearance fallacy, especially in tournaments on day three. The top of the second was as uneventful as the bottom of the first. Then it was Paola’s turn. Twelve men to the plate and eight runs and it appeared that they were back in this one. Appearance fallacy, take two.

Saskatoon continued to batter Paola pitching, which didn't get the kind of defensive support to which it is accustomed. Big hits up and down the Saskatoon lineup continued to frustrate the Panthers, who appeared to be the favorites heading into this game. Madison McLeod continued his hot streak at the plate, seemingly driving in a run or two every trip, while Nolan Zerr and Austin Luciw had clutch hits to keep Stinger rallies going.

Kurt Golubski, who took over on the mound in the middle of the first, pitched his heart out on this day and earned a great deal of respect from those who watched him. It was just one of those days at the ballpark.

MVP Awards: Nash Dreiling (Paola) and Madison McLeod (Saskatoon)

WOW Awards: Kurt Golubski (Paola) and Owen Lindberg (Saskatoon)

Saskatoon, which allowed fewer runs in the pool than Southeast Denver and Paola, will advance to bracket play tomorrow and face Sikeston, Missouri at 2:15.

Game 10: Sikeston vs. Sterling

2009-08-02T17:00:00.001-05:00

Final Score

Sikeston 17
Sterling 3

Confidence comes from success. Success comes from confidence. Sikeston has been successful in this tournament and they play with a tremendous amount of confidence. This game was no different. A dominant pitching performance by Will Pratt and a solid defensive effort to back him up silenced what had been a very productive offense through the first two games.

Both teams, however, have earned spots in bracket play and will be back again tomorrow.

MVP Awards: Riley Schafer (Sterling) and Will Pratt (Sikeston)

WOW Awards: Colton Shalla (Sterling) and Fred Thatch (Sikeston)

Game 9: Southeast Denver vs. Mineral Area

2009-08-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

Final Score

Southeast Denver 4
Mineral Area 14

Mineral Area rode the arm of Kolton Poorman, whose grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary proudly watching their grandson frustrate Southeast Denver hitters for the better part of the early afternoon. Poorman did have some help in the field, as the Mineral Area continued their tremendous defensive effort, highlighted by Karson Kekec's catch of a sinking liner late in the game.

Southeast Denver, all but eliminated after this one, played very strong early, but defensive woes late in the game and an exhausted pitching staff proved to be the difference in this one. However, this bunch can head back to the Mile High city with their heads up, for their performance this weekend, both on and off the field, set them apart as one of the better teams in the field.

MVP Awards: Cameron Hom (Southeast Denver) and Kolten Poorman (Mineral Area)

WOW Awards: Jack Moldenhauer (Southeast Denver) and Karson Kekec (Mineral Area)

Mineral Area advances into bracket play and will face Sterling, Colorado in a Noon contest.

Day Two Observations

2009-08-01T23:59:00.000-05:00

Making the Turn at Second

Well folks, we're halfway done. One more day of pool play and then we'll pare our field down to four as we enter bracket play on Monday. It will be sad to say goodbye to some of the nicest folks tomorrow. We at Haysville have been blessed to be host to so many good people who are appreciative of our efforts to provide these young men with an opportunity to experience a tournament where baseball is the focus, but the main objective is far greater: It's about a memory. And whether you get to play for three days for four, we certainly hope that you've created some memories that you will talk about fondly for many years to come.

Appreciation

I just want to thank all of you who've been so patient with us in the updating of this blog. Our intent was to update it at the conclusion of each game, but lack of Internet access at our complex and our need to have all hands on deck, so to speak, means this doesn't get done until the wee hours of the morning. I know the posts say 2:30 or 5:00, but that's just me making the order work correctly on the blog and trying to keep each day's activities on the same blog day.

Unsung Heroes

Yesterday, I mentioned a player from each team who did the little things and does things on the baseball field the way they should be done. He hustles, has a good attitude, lifts up his teammates both through his play and his encouragement, never quits, and always, always shows respect for himself and this game. I didn't have a title, but now I do. These youngsters are unsung heroes. OK, so some of those who I mentioned yesterday are on the MVP and WOW lists today, but you get the idea. So here is the list from Day 2.

Cimmaron River's Alex Carrasco has the right attitude. I remember Alex from last year's 9U Kansas State Tournament when I served as an umpire. As an eight-year old, he was pretty good. This year, he's back and better. He simply plays the game with the right mix of gumption and humility, plus he hustles regardless of the situation.

Will Gilmer from Sikeston. This guy worked in the dish and at the hot corner today and did so brilliantly. He's not a flashy player and sometimes gets lost in the shuffle with the quality of players around him, but he's the kind of kid every team needs who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Kids like Will are the difference between Championship teams and those who want to be Champions.

There is nothing poor about the play of Mineral Area's Kolton Poorman. This youngster played in the outfield and even got a little time on the bump today. Another kid who's not flashy, but if you watch him for even a short time, you'll quickly realize this kid is a real ballplayer.

Madison McLeod from Saskatoon has been solid as nails at second base and an integral part of the Stinger offensive attack. This guy embodies the spirit of the game of baseball. He hustles everywhere, gives 100 percent, and makes his teammates better.

Haysville's Trevor Page got the nod at shortstop as a replacement and then moved to center field, two positions that he's not had much time at recently. He did a commendable job in both, but his positive attitude in the middle of a 17-run inning was remarkable. "Quit" is one of those words that isn't in Trevor's vocabulary.

As shortstops go, most of them end up on the MVP or WOW list. So far for Austin Nelson from Sterling, that hasn't happened, but let me tell you that this young man is rock steady in the hole, always getting squared up on balls he can, and usually getting a glove on those that are close. You'll see him fulfill his backup responsibilities and do so with energy, regardless of inning or score.

Give me a team full of boys like Tanner Schlesener and we'd win a lot of games and have a lot of fun doing it. The lead-off hitter for Paola is one of those kids who just keeps on plugging, doing the little things that don't get noticed, such as taking the extra base or blocking a ball in the dirt. I like this little guy's heart and determination.

Another lead-off hitter that drew my attention was Southeast Denver's Miles Pojar (pronounced pool-yar). This guy plays a solid left field and does a great job of getting on base and making good things happen for his Thunder teammates. This is the kid to have at the top: all of his teammates believe, as does he, that he'll get a hit or find a way to get on base.

Sportsmanship

Part of the experience of youth sports is to experience both the winning and losing parts of the game. It's tough to lose sometimes, especially when you've given it your all, invested so much, and fall just short. It's also tough to lose when you're getting the stuffing knocked out of you, which has happened a couple of times during this tournament. However, it seems in such cases that is may be far tougher to win.

In each case, the opposing coaches took differing paths to dealing with the difficulty of winning a game that was clearly a mismatch. One chose to keep playing as if the score was 4-3, not wanting his players to back off or not play hard. The other coach simply told his players and coaches in the dugout that the game was out of hand and that they were to only take one base, regardless of the play, keeping the force play in order.

The outcome of the games was similar in terms of score. However, the coach who asked his players to show some restraint and limit the runs scored to bases-loaded hits, walks, or hit batsmen taught his players that it is important to see the game from the perspective of your opponent and to "develop...modesty in victory." Plus, the gesture created goodwill between players, fans, and tournament officials.

Headed to Third

I'm an optimist. Always have been. From what I've seen, Sunday may well be the best set of match-ups to create four competitive games. That would certainly be nice.

I'm also a realist. Pitching is at a premium and a lot of boys have thrown a lot of pitches over the past couple of days. We might see some high-scoring games, but I'm hopeful that they'll be competitive.

Foul Ball Equals Snow Cone
The first person who sees me tomorrow and recites "foul ball equals snow cone" will win a mystery prize valued at somewhere between nothing and a few bucks at a garage sale. OK, I have no idea what I'll hand out, but I'll find something that you like, whoever you are. And everybody likes hot dogs, so at the least we're talking a big Nathan's hot dog.

Oh, the bad news: We're out of the snow cone syrup, so we won't have anymore snow cones. Sorry. We'll have another catchy phrase for foul balls tomorrow, I guess.

Game 8: Paola vs. Southeast Denver

2009-08-01T23:30:00.001-05:00

Final Score

Paola 19
Southeast Denver 6

A close game through three, Southeast Denver seemed to run out of pitching and Paola's offense came alive to put this one away in five innings. Drew Smith was outstanding on the mound for the victorious Panthers, pitching all five innings, giving up just six runs. The Paola defense kept the Mile-High City team at bay for most of the game, led by 3B Kale Clark, who made several outstanding plays at the hot corner.

Typically a solid fielding team, Southeast Denver was, like several other teams this weekend, bitten by the error bug multiple times, allowing Paola to score several unearned runs, extend the lead. As is typical in these tournaments, the harder the boys pressed, the harder the game pressed back. And Paola took full advantage. Led by Drew Jessip's hitting in the middle of the order, Paola batted around in the fourth and put this one away.

MVP Awards: Nick Smith (Southeast Denver) and Drew Jessip (Paola)
WOW Awards: Kevin Zapata (Southeast Denver) and Kale Clark (Paola)

Southeast Denver plays tomorrow at 1:00 against Mineral Area. Paola plays the 5:30 contest against Saskatoon.

Game 7: Haysville vs. Sterling

2009-08-01T19:30:00.000-05:00

Final Score

Haysville 6
Sterling 27

A porous Haysville defense and a strong pitching performance by Sterling's Dylan Santomaso made this a three and one-half inning contest. A run in the top of the first for Haysville gave the hosts their first lead in the tournament, but it didn't last long. Haysville committed four errors, resulting in four Plainsmen unearned runs. And if that wasn't bad enough, the second inning was worse: 21 Plainsmen to the plate, 17 runs, and 7 errors.

All the while, Santomaso is cruising along with a no-hitter through three innings. Avery Harjo broke up the no-hit bid to lead off the fourth and Caden Bressler later drove in three to give Haysville its highest scoring inning of the tournament with five runs. Caden Wagner led the hitting attack for Sterling with an RBI triple in the first, a bases-loaded double in the second, and an RBI single in the third.

MVP Awards: Avery Harjo (Haysville) and Dylan Santomaso (Sterling)
WOW Awards: Caden Bressler (Haysville) and Drew Book (Sterling)

Haysville plays tomorrow at 7:45 against Cimmaron River. Sterling plays at 3:15 tomorrow against Sikeston, Missouri.

Game 6: Saskatoon vs. Mineral Area

2009-08-01T16:30:00.001-05:00

Final Score

Saskatoon 5
Mineral Area 10

Mineral Area rode a four run fourth on their way to a 10-5 win over Saskatoon in a battle that may well have decided a spot in bracket play on Monday. Saskatoon had runners on base in each of the first five innings, but just couldn’t seem to get the big inning, as Mineral Area’s defense rose to each Stinger challenge and kept the Canadians at bay.

MVP Awards: Eli Leiffers (Saskatoon) and Jared Jones (Mineral Area)

WOW Awards: Austin Luciw (Saskatoon) and Connor Hagerty (Mineral Area)

Saskatoon plays tomorrow at 5:30 against Paola, KS, while Mineral Area plays the 1:00 game, taking on Southeast Denver.

Game 5: Cimmaron River vs. Sikeston

2009-08-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

Final Score

Cimmaron River 3
Sikeston 13

Sikeston overcame a slow start with big third and fourth innings to put away the Rattlers from Cimmaron River, 13-3, and assert themselves as one of the favorites in this tournament. A couple of early runs for Cimmaron River seemed to indicate the Rattlers had recovered from yesterday, but the defensive woes plagued them again. As Sikeston settled in defensively, their bats came alive and this one was over in four innings.

MVP Awards: Brody Sumner (Cimmaron River) and Bryce Bays (Sikeston)
WOW Awards: Christian Hernandez (Cimmaron River) and Dalton Davis (Sikeston)

Cimmaron River plays Haysville tomorrow evening at 7:45, while Sikeston takes on Sterling, Colorado at 3:15.

Tournament T-Shirts & Pictures

2009-08-01T08:51:00.003-05:00

Did you miss out on a tournament t-shirt in your size? Well, so did I. There are some sizes left, but many sizes are sold out (Youth large, Adult XL, XXL, and XXXL). However, if you still want one, you can get one. Go to the concession stand and let them know. We'll get your name and address, get them printed, and send them to you. All we ask is that you add $3 to the price to cover shipping.

If you would like to see more pictures of the tournament, you can view and order them at Pixture This. Marc Browning does an incredible job of capturing the spirit of our youth.

Day One Thoughts

2009-08-01T00:45:00.007-05:00

Well, we've got four games in the book. Two were pretty good games. Two were not. Regardless, I saw boys having fun, playing a game that they love. And that's really the objective, isn't it?

The highlight of the day was the opening ceremony. A hundred or so boys and their coaches lined up on the field, surrounded by the Kansas American Legion Riders' motorcycles, the national anthems from Canada and the United States, a first pitch by a man who has given so much to the Babe Ruth experience, a few awards for the folks who make it all happen, and a human video by a young man from Haysville. What a neat experience for these boys.

Awards
Each game, we make two awards to each team: Most Valuable Player and WOW. The MVP speaks for itself. The WOW award tends to go to a player who made one of those plays that makes you say, "Wow!" Sometimes those plays don't happen, and then we look for a player that was consistently good or engaged in an act of sportsmanship that elevated the game.

While not every boy gets one of these awards, I'm always on the lookout for a kid who does things the right way. He may not make a great play, or even be directly involved in the play, but he does the right things to put himself in position to make the play should the opportunity present itself. Today I saw a few boys who fit this description.

Saskatoon's Madison, who was always in position for the play, whether it was fielding the ball, taking the throw, making the cut, or backing up a teammate.

Brody from Cimmaron River always seemed to be in the right spot and had his glove down, ready to make a play.

Bodie, the first baseman from Sterling makes his fielders better with his ability to find the bag and stretch to catch the ball, which he did often and well today.

Nick, who played infield and caught a few innings for Southeast Denver gets mention just because he outhustled nearly everyone else. He was always moving, doing whatever he could to get to make a play.

Kenny from Mineral Area made what I consider the most heads-up play of the day. With a runner on first and nobody out, a ball was hit slowly toward third. The third baseman charged the ball and made a nice throw to get the runner at first on a close play. A heads-up first baseman sees the runner round second and head to third, firing the ball to the bag where Kenny makes the catch and the tag to complete the double play. Why Kenny and not the first baseman for the recognition? Kenny is the team's left fielder. The play was scored 5-3-7, dp. Wow!

Paola's Kale, who played a rock-solid third base. This young man was always on his toes and never hesitated when the ball was hit his way. He was ready and knew the situation and where to go with the baseball.

Titus from Haysville, who played a very solid left field, providing one of few bright spots in an otherwise ugly game for the host team. He had his head in the game, making several nice stops and following it up with a strong, accurate throw. Plus, he was a positive voice for a team on the wrong end of a lopsided score.

Sikeston's Noah, who showed hustle with each pitch, despite the score. He moved with each pitch and was ready for action on every play, even though his action was limited due to the offensive struggles of the opponent.

Tomorrow
A good night's sleep always does wonders for me. I'm headed to bed for a few hours before we're back at the ballpark. There will undoubtedly be some good games tomorrow. One that I sure want to see is the late game with Paola and Southeast Denver. It should be a great way to end a beautiful Saturday in South Central Kansas.

Game 4: Sikeston vs. Haysville

2009-07-31T22:00:00.000-05:00

Final Score

Sikeston 35
Haysville 4

This one was ugly. A nine-run first for Sikeston put this one away early. Haysville did show some life, scoring a run in the bottom half of the first and then getting a double-play and a fly out to hold Sikeston scoreless in the second. Another Haysville run closed the margin to seven, but it was all Sikeston after that. Twelve runs in the third and 14 in the fourth on aggressive baserunning simply crushed the overmatched host team.

MVP Awards: Caden Bressler (Haysville) and Fred Thatch (Sikeston)
WOW Awards: Dakota Mitchell (Haysville) and Will Pratt (Sikeston)

Haysville plays at 4:30 tomorrow against Sterling, CO. Sikeston plays at Noon tomorrow against Cimmaron River.

Game 3: Mineral Area vs. Paola

2009-07-31T19:00:00.002-05:00

Final Score

Mineral Area 12
Paola 9

Game number three was a tremendous ball game, filled with solid baseball, some great plays, a few close calls, and a back-and-forth affair on the scoreboard. Coupled with 80-degree temperatures at the end of July in Kansas, it's about as good as one could hope for on a Friday afternoon.

Mineral Area jumped out to a three-run lead after an inning and a half, but that lead would be short-lived. Paola got the bats rolling and, with a little help from a few Mineral Area errors, put up six to take their own three-run lead. After both teams failed to score in the third, Mineral Area erased the Paola lead in the top of the fourth. The tie didn't last long as Paola took advantage of an error and manufactured the go-ahead run in the home half of the inning.

Like every other lead in the game, it didn't last long. However this time, Mineral Area wasn't satisfied with just catching up. Five tallies, keyed by two big pinch hits, gave Mineral Area the lead for good. And the Mineral Area center fielder made sure with the play of the day. After a leadoff walk, this youngster made a terrific catch and throw to double off the runner at first, squelching a potential rally before it got started. Mineral Area would add a run in the top of six and then hung on was Paola plated two runs in the bottom half and had the bases loaded with one out before a strikeout and a fielder's choice ended it.

MVP Awards: Kurt Golubski (Paola) and Briley Smith (Mineral Area)
WOW Awards: Luke Johnson (Paola) and Jared Jones & Cody Manion (Mineral Area)

Paola plays tomorrow evening in the final game of the evening at 6:45 against Southeast Denver, while Mineral Area plays the 2:15 tilt with Saskatoon.

Game 2: Cimmaron River vs. Sterling

2009-07-31T17:30:00.001-05:00

Final Score

Cimmaron River 0
Sterling 10

Game number two pitted the second-place teams from Kansas and Colorado. The Sterling defense was just that, keeping the Rattlers off of the scoreboard for the duration. Cimmaron River, who hadn't practiced since the end of the Kansas State tournament nearly two weeks ago, uncharacteristically struggled in the field, giving up a six-spot in the decisive second inning. The combination of Sterling's pitching and defense, coupled with the rust in the Rattler bats limited Cimmaron River to just 16 plate appearances in the run-rule shortened four-inning contest.

MVP Awards: Tristan Warden (Cimmaron River) and Riley Schaefer & Caden Wagner (Sterling)
WOW Awards: Junior Garcia (Cimmaron River) and Ryan Mack (Sterling)

Cimmaron River plays Sikeston, Missouri tomorrow at Noon, while Sterling plays Haysville, KS at 4:30.

Game 1: Southeast Denver vs. Saskatoon

2009-07-31T15:00:00.002-05:00

Final Score

Southeast Denver 16
Saskatoon 15

The first game of the tournament proved to be one of the best games of the day. Southeast Denver came out of the gate quickly, their offense matching their Thunder nickname, notching 7 first-inning runs. Saskatoon came back in the bottom half of the inning with a three-spot to close the gap to four. But in the top of two, Southeast Denver struck for another four runs and this one appeared to be all but over after the Stingers failed to score in the home half of the second. Appearances can be deceiving.

The Saskatoon pitching and defense ratcheted play up a notch, allowing just two more runs over the next three innings. Two in the third, and three-spots in the fourth and fifth put the Canadians within striking distance heading into the sixth, trailing 14-11.

The top of the sixth saw SE Denver send 8 men to the plate and put three more tallies up to push the margin to six, again apparently putting the game out of reach. Remember, appearances can be deceiving. Saskatoon showed their moxie, however, getting four runs across and runners to second and third before falling short of what would have been an incredible comeback.

MVP Awards: Thien Gamble (Saskatoon) and Jake Groth (SE Denver)
WOW Awards: Tanner Robin (Saskatoon) and Evan Kerlin (SE Denver)

Southeast Denver plays Paola, KS tomorrow evening in the 6:45 game, while Saskatoon squares off with Mineral Area, Missouri at 2:15.

Anticipation

2009-07-30T16:11:00.018-05:00

Eight teams are here. About 100 boys in all, ready to play some ball. And at high noon on Friday, we'll get it all underway. Today teams checked in with Paul Unrau, Bob Willis, and Pat Lemmons (more on these guys in the next few days). A little practice for some teams, a little relaxation time for others before the evening activities.

Baseball, Hotdogs, and Apple Pie (OK, a bag of chips and a drink)

What is more American than baseball? Some might argue hot dogs, so that was the supper for these little big guys and their families at Riggs Park. Players lined up in groups organized by birth month to meet boys from the other teams. As they got their food, they soon found their familiar teammates and friends, but at least they got to meet someone new while they stood in line.

Hit and Run

The skills competition was an opportunity to hit the ball and do some fielding in a fairly relaxed atmosphere. "Run 'til you're out" is the rule and the defense merely has to force the runner at any base (or tag). The offensive team scores one point per bag touched before being forced out. Each team batted 15 players while the team ahead of them in the order played in the field.

Saskatoon notched the most points with 17, but each team had a great time, with some outstanding hits and some tremendous plays in the field. Just an appetizer for what waits over the weekend. Stay tuned!

Whether it's an inside-the-park homerun or a single with a couple of errors, there is great joy in circling the bases and scoring after you've just hit the ball. It's one of the most exciting plays in baseball...unless you're in the field.

Welcome to Haysville

2009-07-28T19:45:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Haysville, Kansas for the 2009 9U Cal Ripken Midwest Plains Regional Baseball Tournament of Champions. Haysville Amateur Softball and Baseball Association (HASBA) is proud to be your host for what promises to be an outstanding tournament experience.

During the tournament, we'll post a photo or two, the score sheets, box scores, and a recap of each game. We'll even try to do a few stories about the teams and some of the interesting details of the tournament trail. So whether you're back home and want to keep up on the action or you've made the journey to south central Kansas and want to check up on the action while you're enjoying the Sedgwick County Zoo, a nice meal at one of our many excellent restaurants, or just lounging around the hotel while the kids are swimming, this is your source for tournament information.

If at any time you have questions, please stop by the press tent behind homeplate and ask. We'll be happy to help. Thanks for coming to Haysville. We hope that you have a wonderful experience!

Why I Love Baseball, part 1

2009-07-28T07:10:00.013-05:00

As a kid growing up in a small town on the high plains of Western Kansas, I played every sport available. And since we were three-plus hours from the nearest city of any real size, our options were as limited as our television channels in the days before cable. The only youth program available was baseball. At five, I started Pee Wee baseball at the only field we had in town. The American Legion played on the same field and their outfield was the high school football field. Our outfield was the American Legion infield. The press box was built on skids and they dragged it with a tractor from behind the backstop after baseball season to the outfield behind second base for football season. We always knew baseball season was getting close when they dragged the press box back behind home plate.

I cannot recall a single score from any of those games. I know that we won more than we lost, but I couldn't tell you our record. There wasn't a tournament or a chance to advance, we just played baseball and had fun. Our priorities were being with our buddies, getting ice cream at Tastee Freeze after the game, and playing ball--in that order. Our parents all dropped us off at the school and we rode a school bus, as a team, to every game, as most all of our games were in Atwood, 27 miles to the east. Riding home on the bus was optional, but I don't recall ever riding home with my folks. My friends were on the bus and so was I. Plus, the bus always stopped at Tastee Freeze.

Charlie Elijah was our coach. He taught history at the high school and had two girls that were our age, but somewhere along the way, found a love of baseball and passed it on to a bunch of boys who played ball in jeans, cleats if we had them, and a cap from the Co-op, a seed company, or a grain elevator. The only thing that matched was the jersey. We didn't know any better and none of the other teams looked any different aside from the jersey.

I was a catcher by position. I guess I was one of the few kids who wasn't afraid of getting hit and didn't mind putting on all of that stuff in the middle of July at the end of a triple-digit day. In those days, there was no t-ball, no coach pitch, and no machine pitch. One of the older kids always pitched and most batters either struck out, got walked, or got hit. And I'm old enough that we still hit with wooden bats. Usually a Louisville Slugger model with a big-leaguer's signature. Mine was an Al Kaline model, which came from my Grandmother's garage and likely belonged to one of my uncles in years gone by. I had no idea who Al Kaline was, but I didn't care. My first glove was a Wilson with Ron Guidry's signature, whose only fault was his professional team, as I grew up as a fan of the upstart Kansas City Royals and had my heart broken a few times by the hated Yankees. We weren't well enough off to afford anything else, so the Ron Guidry model Wilson would get me through to age 14.

So, a group of boys in t-shirts, seed caps, jeans that were way too short, tennis shoes or cleats, and old floppy gloves played ball. And I can't tell you a single score. But that Tastee Freeze ice cream was the best ever. I think it was chocolate/vanilla twist.

Mom, I'm Hungry!!!

2009-07-26T21:54:00.002-05:00

After a big game, it's time for a big meal. Of course, the greater Wichita area has all of the chain restaurants, many of them fantastic, others decent. However, when I go out of town, I like to eat somewhere that I can't eat while I'm home. So, here's a list of good eats in the area that you aren't going to find in every city along the interstate.

Old Mill Tasty Shop. Lunch only, but worth the trip to East Douglas on the west edge of Old Town. Great sandwiches, friendly service, and an old-fashioned soda fountain make this one of our family favorites. About $7/person. Get there early on Friday (11AM) or be prepared to wait.
Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q. While those of us who smoke our own meats don't like to admit it, there are a few places that know how to do barbecue. In Wichita, it's Hog Wild. On 47th Street, just east of Broadway, or on West Street, just north of Kellogg, you can expect above-average brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. I haven't tried the chicken, but everything else has always been good. About $6/person. Don't be late, they close at 8.
Knolla's Pizza. The best pizza in Wichita. West of Ridge on Central (one mile west of I-235). The place isn't that big, but call ahead and they'll have it ready if you're eating poolside after the game. $12 gets you a large, single-topping pizza.
A.J.'s Sports Grill. The second-best pizza in Wichita, but easily the biggest. The 29" Superdome pizza is pretty good, but the kids get a kick out of the size. Located inside NorthRock Lanes, a couple of lines of bowling might help the kiddos sleep a little better, too! A 29" Superdome will run you about $35. Not bad for feeding most of your team. On their site is a 10% off coupon, too.
Felipe's Mexican Restaurant. Family-owned, REAL Mexican food. Figure on $8/person. Just west of I-235 on Central.
West Street Burgers. No website for this joint, but the burgers are darn tasty. Just north of Kellogg on West Street. About $6/person for a combo. Ask about take-out for a large group and they'll have it ready and might save you a few bucks.

If you need help getting to any of these places (or anywhere else for that matter), please come to the press tent behind home plate and we'll be more than happy to get you where you want to go.

Your Wichita To-Do List

2009-07-23T01:46:00.009-05:00

Baseball is the greatest game ever. However, you may find yourself wanting to get out of the Kansas heat or just give yourself a break from baseball for a few hours. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun things to do in the area.

Sedgwick County Zoo. Recent additions make a great zoo even better. The new Tiger Trek exhibit is phenomenal. Be sure to check out the Gorilla Forest and the Penguins.

Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. You might be surprised at the history of this sparsely populated state when it comes to famous athletes. Did you know that Walter "Big Train" Johnson is a native of Kansas? Head down to Old Town and take in the history of our sporting state. When you're done, there are many fine eateries to satisfy your appetite.

Kansas Cosmosphere. A short drive up K-96 will take you to Hutchinson, home of one of the finest space museums in the country.

Kansas Underground Salt Museum. Also located in Hutchinson or, should I say, UNDER Hutchinson. 650 feet below the surface lies one of the most interesting places you will ever see. If you play late or early, make a day out of the trip and get a discount ticket for both the Salt Museum and the Cosmosphere.

Exploration Place. On the banks of the Arkansas River just west of downtown lies one of the premier science museums in the country. The focus on youngsters and learning make this a must-see while you're here.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park. Located in Goddard (just west of Wichita), Tanganyika offers visitors an experience different from the typical zoo. Many of the animals are accessible to the point you can touch and even feed them (no, they don't let you pet the tigers).

Old Cowtown Museum. Go back to the late 19th century in this living museum and experience the old west. Watch the gunslingers and sip on a sasparilla in this slower, simpler trek back in time.

Rock River Rapids. Cool off with a trip to Derby (east of Haysville on 63rd Street across the Arkansas River) and enjoy RRR's slides, pools, and lazy river.

Keeper of the Plains. Standing more than 70 feet above the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers, the Keeper of the Plains statue is often considered the symbol of Wichita. Two suspension foot bridges take you to the plaza that celebrates Native American heritage. If you go on Friday or Saturday evening, there are Ring of Fire shows at 7 and 8 PM. Sunday show is 7 PM only. This is one of my favorite places in Wichita. If you have time, walk down the north bank to the Veterans Memorial Park.

For more to see and do in the Wichita area, visit http://www.gowichita.com/.

Directions to Plagens-Carpenter Park

2009-07-22T14:27:00.004-05:00

"Getting there is half the fun" ~ Cunard Line Motto

We trust that your journey to Haysville, regardless of distance, is enjoyable and picturesque. Whether you've seen Bison, Wind Turbines, Tornados, or more orange cones than you can count, we want you to easily find your way to the ball diamond.

Plagens-Carpenter Park is your daily home for at least a few hours for the weekend. From I-35, exit at Haysville on the Kansas Turnpike. Turn left onto Grand Avenue, then west on Grand to Broadway. At the stoplight, turn right, heading north on Broadway. After you cross the "Big Ditch", turn left at the next light (63rd Street). Go west to Mabel Street, just before the EMS Station (if you get to the railroad crossing, you've gone too far). Turn left and head south to the park entrance. Games will be held on PC4. The entrance to the fields is on the south side of the complex between fields 3 and 4.

If you're coming in from the North, take I-35 to the 47th Street exit (last free exit). Take 47th Street west to Broadway, then Broadway south to 63rd Street. Then west to Mabel and you're there.

Tournament Schedule

2009-07-21T22:32:00.003-05:00

Friday, July 31
Game 1, Noon
SE Denver, CO vs. Saskatoon, SK
Game 2, 2:15
Sterling, CO vs. Cimmaron River, KS
Game 3, 4:30
Mineral Area, MO vs. Paola, KS
Game 4, 7:30
Sikeston, MO vs. Haysville, KS

Opening Ceremonies, 6:45

Saturday, August 1
Game 5, Noon
Cimmaron River, KS vs. Sikeston, MO
Game 6, 2:15
Saskatoon, SK vs. Mineral Area, MO
Game 7, 4:30
Haysville, KS vs. Sterling, CO
Game 8, 6:45
Paola, KS vs. SE Denver, CO

Sunday, August 2
Game 9, 1:00
Mineral Area, MO vs. SE Denver, CO
Game 10, 3:15
Sikeston, MO vs. Sterling, CO
Game 11, 5:30
Saskatoon, SK vs. Paola, KS
Game 12, 7:45
Haysville, KS vs. Cimmaron River, KS

Monday, August 3
Tournament Bracket

Bracket

2009-07-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

2009 Cal Ripken Midwest Plains Regional

Tournament of Champions

9 and Under Boys' Bracket Play

Haysville, Kansas

Coin flip will determine home team in bracket play

Cimmaron River, Kansas

2009-07-20T15:00:00.001-05:00

Cimmaron River, Kansas

9U Kansas State Runner-Up

Game Results
Sterling 10, Cimmaron River 0 Recap

Haysville, Kansas

2009-07-20T14:00:00.002-05:00

Haysville, Kansas

Host Team

Game Results
Sikeston 35, Haysville 4 Recap

Mineral Area, Missouri

2009-07-20T13:00:00.003-05:00

Mineral Area, Missouri

Missouri 9U State Runner-Up

Game Results
Mineral Area 12, Paola 9 Recap

Pictures

Coach, we love your passion for your kids and for this game! Thanks!

Paola, Kansas

2009-07-20T12:00:00.001-05:00

Paola, Kansas

9U Kansas State Champions

Game Results
Mineral Area 12, Paola 9 Recap

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

2009-07-20T11:00:00.001-05:00

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

9U Canadian Representative

Game Results
Southeast Denver 16, Saskatoon 15 Recap

Sikeston, Missouri

2009-07-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

Sikeston, Missouri

9U Missouri State Champions

Game Results
Sikeston 35, Haysville 4 Recap

Southeast Denver, Colorado

2009-07-20T09:00:00.002-05:00

Southeast Denver

9U Colorado State Champions

Game Results
Southeast Denver 16, Saskatoon 15 Recap

Sterling, Colorado

2009-07-20T08:00:00.003-05:00

Sterling, Colorado

9U Colorado State Runner-Up

Game Results
Sterling 10, Cimmaron River 0 Recap

Pictures

Sterling Moms Line Dance for the Crowd. Great job! Thanks, Ladies!!!