ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The Cal Ripken State Tournament was held June 13-June 19 in Woodland, with two teams representing Elk Grove: Elk Grove Blue and Elk Grove Gold.

Elk Grove Gold struggled in the tournament and finished with a record of 1-2 following their last game on Monday, June 15.         

Elk Grove Blue won its first game on Sunday, June 14 but then lost their second game to their crosstown rivals Laguna.                          

But that did not discourage them at all. Elk Grove Blue won three straight games to reach the semifinals, where they were to face Laguna just days after losing to them.     

 

Elk Grove Blue teammates are shown after winning the championship. Photo courtesy of Nicole Rogers       

                       

However, this time was different. Elk Grove Blue went on to beat Laguna in the semifinals to move on to play in the Championship, where they played Laguna for the third time in the tournament.   

It was expected to be a close game and it was. Elk Grove Blue was able to beat Laguna by one run in back-to-back games to win the State Championship.

Now, they are headed to play in the SouthWest Regional Tournament, which is going to be held July 13-25 in Fallon, Nevada. Teams from the Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah will travel to this tournament to see who will move on to play in the Cal Ripken Little League World Series.

And the Elk Grove Blue team believes that it has the opportunity to be one of those teams to advance.          

“We’ve got a really good squad here. They’ve been playing together for quite a while now, and nobody is going to outwork these guys,” said Coach Gary Detwiler.        

It is not just a coach believing in his player capabilities. The players themselves believe in their abilities and what they are able to do and achieve.                   

Caden Gibney, Jesse Halliday and Kenny Renshaw are just a few of the players on the team that know what they are fully capable of and what is to come in the Regional Tournament.

“We’re going to continue to work hard and not back down,” said Gibney, mentioning that they have been practicing five or six days a week.  

They have been working hard knowing that they are going to face tougher competition, but they feel like they have a lot of drive going forward, beating their crosstown rival twice.     

 

Coaches Gary Detwiler, left, and Matt Barge after practice. Photo by Nathan Felix Valencia

“This is our first time winning state and going to regionals, so we have the momentum going forward,” said Renshaw.                            

Although it may be the first time for some players in the Regional tournament, they will support each other no matter what. It is more than just a team, but a family.

Halliday said, “We’ve been playing together since we were 7 or 8.”

This team is not just a group of kids that play baseball. They are friends that have grown up together playing the game that they love.                              

And now they are looking to go to the regional tournament and win, so they can move on and live out the dream of every young baseball player: to play in the Cal Ripken Little League World Series.