N.A. set to host Ripken state tournaments this weekend

The 11- and 12-year-old Cal Ripken 50-70 State Tournaments will return to Riverview Park in North Augusta for the second consecutive year. The double-elimination events are scheduled to begin today and run through the weekend, with winners who will advance to regional tournaments determined Sunday.

"We're hosting two tournaments simultaneously, and we're expecting good tournaments," said tournament director Carl Waldhauer. "This is our second year of hosting after North Augusta and Aiken joined Cal Ripken last year. ... This is part of the progression from Dixie Youth to Cal Ripken."

Although both Aiken and North Augusta still have teams that compete in Dixie Youth leagues for players 13-years-old and up, younger participants are now in Cal Ripken leagues.

"This is our second year participating in Cal Ripken Baseball," said Rick Meyer, the North Augusta Superintendant of Parks and Recreation. "We decided to do something different than Dixie Youth."

There are benefits to both Dixie Youth and Cal Ripken, however, Meyer said the national organization of the Ripken league and the ability to field a team comprised solely of 11-year-old All-Stars were the main factors behind last year's switch. As part of the Dixie Youth league, 11-year-olds had only been able to participate as members of a combined 11- and 12-year-old team.

"When kids play on 12-and-under All-Stars, who's going to be on the teams? Twelve-year-olds," Meyer said. "Now we've got it for the 10s, 9s and 8s. It gives a good chance for the kids to participate."

It seems Cal Ripken officials were just as pleased to be affiliated with North Augusta and Aiken as the area recreation groups were with the larger organization.

"We have good facilities to host tournaments," Waldhauer said of the diamonds in North Augusta and across Aiken County. "The Ripken people were pleased with how things turned out last year and decided to come back."

The 11-year-old tournament has four teams in the field and will commence today at 6 p.m. In addition to the local squads, there are teams from Mt. Pleasant and West Ashley. North Augusta will play Mt. Pleasant tonight while Aiken will face West Ashley.

The winners will play in one contest and the losers in another at 6 p.m. Saturday, with an elimination game scheduled for 8 p.m. The remaining teams return Sunday at 10 a.m. and will play until at champion is crowned. The winner advances to the regional tournament to be played in Aiken starting July 30.

Should Aiken advance to the final of the 11-year-old tournament, its opponent will advance to the regional event. As the host team, Aiken has automatically qualified for the regional tournament.

"The tournament this weekend will be great, but I can't wait to see the high level of play at the Southeast Regional in Aiken," Meyer said.

The 12-year-old event is larger, with a field that includes teams North Augusta, Aiken, Reidville, Goose Creek, Boiling Springs, West Ashley and District 1 - a team from the Spartanburg County area. Play will begin with three games at 4 p.m. today and followed by three more games at 8 p.m. Aiken opens against West Ashley and North Augusta will play Boiling Springs.

Four more games Saturday will pare the field before a winner emerges Sunday. That team advances to the 12-year-old Southeast Regional championship in Buckhead, Ga., with a chance to qualify for national tournament held in Aberdeen, Md.

"I expect both teams from (North Augusta and Aiken) to have a good shot at doing well. They were very competitive last year," Waldhauer said. "Charleston area teams are traditionally strong."

Meyer gave his endorsement of the action he expects this weekend saying, "Excellent baseball will be played."

Contact Noah Feit at nfeit@aikenstandard.com.

Follow Aiken Standard on facebook and twitter for breaking news, updates, weather, traffic, and more.

Share with us! Email your story to mystory@aikenstandard.com, or send photos and videos to editorial@aikenstandard.com.