DARLINGTON - It's going to be a hectic week as Darlington hosts the 10-year-old Cal Ripken state tournament in addition to the Lafayette County Fair this week.
There are 14 baseball teams that will be in Darlington for the Cal Ripken tournament that starts Wednesday at Sieg Field and Riverside Park. The championship is Saturday at 3 p.m. A trip to the Ohio Valley Regional in Lexington, Kentucky is at stake for the winner of the tournament.
"The kids are fired up about it," said Scott Heinberg, the Darlington 10-year-old Cal Ripken state tournament director and the Darlington coach. "My goal is to win it or at least get into the semifinals. I think that would be a good showing. We have been talking about making a trip to the regional in Lexington, Kentucky."
The tournament starts with three games of pool play Wednesday and Thursday. The single elimination tournament starts Friday. The Darlington Cal Ripken team will open pool play at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday against Sauk Prairie at Riverside Park. Darlington is set to play two pool games on Thursday - at 2 p.m. against Marinette and 6 p.m. against Sturgeon Bay at Sieg Field.
Heinberg said hosting the Cal Ripken tournament is a great chance to showcase Sieg Field and the community.
"For a lot of kids, once they see it they are amazed," Heinberg said of Sieg Field. "It's like playing in a little Major League Baseball field. They can't wait to come back and play again."
Heinberg said Janesville will be one of the favorites, since they won the 9-year-old tournament last year.
He also expects Milton and Mount Horeb to have strong teams.
"We have a lot of good pitchers," Heinberg said. "I think there will be a lot of good competition. It will be a test for them."
Queen B Radio is set to broadcast up to 10 games of the tournament. Queen B Radio also will be giving away four tickets to a Brewers-Cubs game on Aug. 26, four tickets to a Brewers-Cubs game Aug. 27 and four tickets to a Brewers-Phillies game Sept. 10. The championship team on Saturday will receive 20 tickets to attend a Madison Mallards game.
Heinberg has been spending a lot of time on the computer getting teams registered and organizing the tournament. Now he's turning his attention to stocking the concession stand and preparing the field for the tournament.
"That (the games) is what I'm looking forward to," he said. "I can't wait to get on the field, meet the guys and play the games instead of doing all this paper work and computer work."
There are 14 baseball teams that will be in Darlington for the Cal Ripken tournament that starts Wednesday at Sieg Field and Riverside Park. The championship is Saturday at 3 p.m. A trip to the Ohio Valley Regional in Lexington, Kentucky is at stake for the winner of the tournament.
"The kids are fired up about it," said Scott Heinberg, the Darlington 10-year-old Cal Ripken state tournament director and the Darlington coach. "My goal is to win it or at least get into the semifinals. I think that would be a good showing. We have been talking about making a trip to the regional in Lexington, Kentucky."
The tournament starts with three games of pool play Wednesday and Thursday. The single elimination tournament starts Friday. The Darlington Cal Ripken team will open pool play at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday against Sauk Prairie at Riverside Park. Darlington is set to play two pool games on Thursday - at 2 p.m. against Marinette and 6 p.m. against Sturgeon Bay at Sieg Field.
Heinberg said hosting the Cal Ripken tournament is a great chance to showcase Sieg Field and the community.
"For a lot of kids, once they see it they are amazed," Heinberg said of Sieg Field. "It's like playing in a little Major League Baseball field. They can't wait to come back and play again."
Heinberg said Janesville will be one of the favorites, since they won the 9-year-old tournament last year.
He also expects Milton and Mount Horeb to have strong teams.
"We have a lot of good pitchers," Heinberg said. "I think there will be a lot of good competition. It will be a test for them."
Queen B Radio is set to broadcast up to 10 games of the tournament. Queen B Radio also will be giving away four tickets to a Brewers-Cubs game on Aug. 26, four tickets to a Brewers-Cubs game Aug. 27 and four tickets to a Brewers-Phillies game Sept. 10. The championship team on Saturday will receive 20 tickets to attend a Madison Mallards game.
Heinberg has been spending a lot of time on the computer getting teams registered and organizing the tournament. Now he's turning his attention to stocking the concession stand and preparing the field for the tournament.
"That (the games) is what I'm looking forward to," he said. "I can't wait to get on the field, meet the guys and play the games instead of doing all this paper work and computer work."
