Some of Ocala’s youngest athletes have earned the right to represent the city at an upcoming state baseball tournament that will pit them against dozens of other Florida teams.

The Ocala Rotary Sportsplex will send two teams of 8-year-old and 6-year-old (and under) players to this year’s Cal Ripken Junior State Tournament, which takes place from June 12 to June 15 in Palm Beach.

The 8U and 6U teams are led by Todd Blankenship and Brian Fitzpatrick, respectively, and play their games at the Ocala Rotary Sportsplex, which is located at 5220 SE Maricamp Road in Ocala. According to Blankenship, the groups will send teams in the two divisions for the first time in several years.

Cal Ripken teams in Ocala
The Cal Ripken 8U team from Ocala will play in the state tournament next month. Back row, left to right: TJ Sanchez, Joe Gear, Todd Blankenship. Middle row, left to right: Waylon Harvin, Jack Blankenship, Everette Prosoco, Tanner Toth, Andrew Gear, Lakin White, Mason Shrader. Front row, from left to right: Kadon Sanchez, Micah Burgos, Parker Hayes, Kai Harmon, Rigby McKimm

To earn their spots, both teams finished in the top three at the district tournament, which was held in Bushnell earlier this month.

The 8U team played seven games over five days during the district tournament, finishing 5-2 and placing third in a field of 17 teams.

The 6U team played five games in five days, finishing 4-1 and also placing third.

Ocala Rotary Sportsplex Cal Ripken 6U team
The 6U team is led by Matt Goldsmith, Brian Fitzpatrick (head coach), Gene Losito, and Craig Hampy (back row, left to right). Middle Row, left to right: Camden Rollins, Grady Goldsmith, Hayes Stewart, Landon Losito, Samuel Higuera, Charlie Fitzpatrick, Hayes Hampy. Front row, left to right: Clark Caruthers, Copeland Crews, Mason Gibbs, Tucker Magamoll, John Cerevella.

According to Blankenship, although most teams participating in the tournament are travel ball teams that play baseball together year-round, the Ocala teams are comprised of children picked from their Spring recreational league teams. All the children came together to play their way into the state tournament.

In August, the Ocala Rotary Sportsplex will play host to the Cal Ripken 8U World Series.

For any businesses looking to support the local children with travel expenses, visit Ocala Rotary Sportsplex online or call Andrew Hanley, the league’s treasurer, at 352-804-0942 and specify the team you’d like to support.

The Cal Ripken Baseball league was founded in 1968 as a subdivision of the Babe Ruth Leage program, with the first 16 to 18 World Series held in New Jersey that year. The youth program for children under the age of 12 was created in 1999. The program is named for Cal Ripken, Jr., who played 2,632 consecutive games in his career. Nicknamed “The Iron Man,” he played for the Baltimore Orioles for 21 seasons, during which time he amassed more than 3,000 hits and more than 400 home runs.

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