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By Ray Hamill — A group of young local baseball players will get some valuable experience this coming week as they get set to complete in a state championship tournament in Elk Grove.

For the second straight year, the Cutten Ridgewood 8U All-Stars will travel to play in the 2024 Cal Ripken State Championships, and according to head coach John McGinnis the players are ready to go and eager to enjoy the moment.

The local all-stars will open the 14-team tournament on Saturday when they face off against Elk Grove Blue at 2 p.m.

“I am very excited for our team this year,” McGinnis said. “We gained valuable experience as 7-year-olds last year in the tournament and battled some great teams and the 100 degree elements that our coastal kids are not used to.”

The goal for the Cutten Ridgewood All-Stars ahead of the prestigious tournament is clear, namely to enjoy the moment as they gain some valuable experience as ball players.

“Our 8U all-stars have been working hard the last couple of weeks to prepare for the trip with practice and fundraising,” the head coach added. “My message to the boys is clear — We have to be confident in this game and stay positive always in the moments that don’t go our way.

“Play in the present and play for your brothers beside you, and good Lord willing things will work out.

“Most of all, just have fun!”

The local all-star team will rely heavily on a loaded pitching staff that includes starters Elyas Manzi, Chayce McGinnis, Wyatt Kortsen, Sebastian Agricola and Manolo Gonzalez, as well as the team defense behind them.

“These boys have the ability to throw a lot of strikes for us and get the ground balls we need,” John McGinnis said. “They work down in the zone and can go deep into their pitch counts.”

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The pitching staff also includes hard-working relief pitchers Edward Rich, Troy Blacketer, Jeremy Sanders and Ryden Sizemore.

Rounding out a talented roster are first-year players Joshua Bradshaw and Legend Taylor, who each appear ready to make big contributions at the tournament.

And good pitching isn’t the only thing expected out of these young players.

“This group of 8-year-olds can swing the sticks and show some great flashes of leather,” their head coach said.

Assistant coaches Kerry Achane and Nathan Blacketer will also make the trip and have been working hard behind the scenes to help prepare the young players, while John McGinnis also expressed appreciation for league president Steve Ritter and the “long days he puts in for the young boys and girls of our community to play the great game of baseball.”