HONOLULU — Hilo Cal Ripken League’s 12U All-Star baseball team concluded last weekend its first state championship run since the organization’s revitalization.
Though Hilo went 0-3 and suffered two double-digit losses, the tournament was a valuable learning experience for the fledgling team.
“The other kids were a lot bigger and more physical,” said coach Koa Marzo. “I told the team ‘that’s what the best of the best of Oahu plays in.’ You have that one good team who will go to the Little League majors, and almost everyone else plays in Cal Ripken out there. It prepared them to play some tough teams up there.”
Despite the losses, the players enjoyed the variety that came with playing away from the Big Island.
“They had fun,” Marzo said. “Every weekend in Hilo, we played the same teams over and over — so it was good for them. They had fun playing these other off-island teams, they had a really good time.”
The experience left Hilo Cal Ripken League’s coaches and players with a desire to return next year and play more competitively. Marzo said that doing this will require enhanced training and preparation.
“We’ll have to prepare the kids for that Oahu baseball culture,” he said. “Stepping on the field and being able to play at the highest level. I’m sure some of them were a little shell shocked, taken aback by what the competition looked like — and that’s okay. If we can grow from that and come back next year with a good mindset, the kids will be fine.”
The league’s other All-Star team, 13U, is competing at the state championship this week.
Cal Ripken League baseball is similar to Little League, but uses larger field sizes and has different rules and philosophy. The distance between the bases is 60 feet in Little League, while it is 70 feet in Cal Ripken baseball. The pitching distance is 46 feet in Little League and 50 feet in Cal Ripken baseball.
However, Little League introduced an “Intermediate” 50/70 division ten years ago.
Unlike Little League, Cal Ripken baseball does not have a mercy rule.
Little League is more popular worldwide, but Cal Ripken baseball is more popular in certain regions.
Hilo Cal Ripken League returned recently from a roughly seven-year hiatus.