Nevada coach calls the infielders in for a meeting.

ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The 10U Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament makes its way back to Elk Grove for a second straight year. Last year the tournament was held at Morse Community Park, where this year it is at Jan Rau Community Park.                

Every team that was competing in the tournament had to arrive on Sunday July 12, where they needed to check in at Albiani Middle School in the morning. They then had an opening day ceremony later in the day that was followed by pin trading between teams and a skill competition. This was to bring the teams together for the night so they could get to know who each other was playing. It was also an opportunity to build camaraderie between the teams that are going to be playing throughout the week. 

Galt team runs off the field after recording the third out.

                           

The first games started the next morning on July 13 at 9 a.m. with two games taking place at the same time. Ten teams were split into two pools for pool play before going into single elimination, with each team being able to play four games throughout the week.                    

The ten teams playing in this tournament represent each state of the Pacific Southwest region. Three teams are from Northern California, two teams from Central California and Hawaii and one team from Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.         

Once pool play is over and they start the single elimination, the top two teams from each pool will play for the spots in the championship game. The semi-final game will be played on Saturday July 18 at 8 a.m., followed by the championship game at 11:30 a.m.

Friends and family watch from the sidelines during the morning game

The winner of the championship game will advance to the Cal Ripken Little League World Series. That tournament will be played in Stafford, Virginia from Aug. 6 through the 15.

Each player is going to try to do their best over the course of the week, knowing that they cannot lose more than two games if they want to have a shot at winning the championship.                     

Being able to play in the Cal Ripken Little League World Series is a kid’s dream. That is a rare opportunity for only the best teams in the country, with the chance to play against the best teams from other parts of the world.                             

Each of the ten teams competing in this tournament is looking to be given that opportunity, but only one of them will qualify and turn that dream into a reality.

River Park pitcher delivers a pitch from the mound.