Marty Gordon
The Cal Ripken Under-the-age-of-10 Minors state baseball tournament is being held this weekend in the New River Valley.
Christiansburg is hosting hundreds of players, coaches and fans who will attend the event at the Harkrader Sports Complex.
Three local teams will participate in the tournament including all-stars from Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Floyd.
Other teams participating include New Kent, Arlington, Augusta, Winchester, Keezletown, Stafford, Williamsburg, Manassas, Glen Allen and Rockville.
Nationally, Cal Ripken Baseball is a division of Babe Ruth Baseball. The Minors Division is recommended for ballplayers ages 9-10. Players build and refine their fundamental skills while beginning to understand game strategy and teamwork. In most regions, participants first experience post-season tournament competition in this level, leading to the 10-year-old World Series.
Tournament teams can compete in Districts, States, Regionals, and a World Series if they continue to win at each level.
The league is named after Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr., who is nicknamed “the Iron Man”. He was an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire 21-season career in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles.
As part of the tournament, players can participate in a skills competition that includes a homerun derby, around the horn, gold arm, and road runner. Prizes will be given to the winner of each competition.
Opening ceremonies were slated to be held on Thursday. Once bracket play is over, teams will be slated into a single elimination tourney beginning today, Saturday, July 6.
