The Hillsboro Recreation Commission will host the 2024 Cal Ripken 10U Baseball State Tournament also known as the Midwest Plains Regional. Teams from North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado will compete in Hillsboro the weekend of July 18 – 21 for the opportunity to go to the World Series in Crown Point, IN in August.
“One of the things that I always want to happen in Kansas is for all parts of the state to be involved as much as possible. The 10U Cal Ripken state tournament has been held in the Southeastern part of Kansas frequently the last several years so it was my goal this year to seek a different venue geographically. And as the Kansas Cal Ripken Baseball State Commissioner I want to involve as many leagues as possible each year as well. Hillsboro as a long-standing member of the Cottonwood Valley League was an obvious choice to host the 2024 10U baseball tournament because of the local involvement historically and because Hillsboro has great facilities for hosting. Kansas Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken Baseball Leagues is excited about having Hillsboro as host this coming summer. We are looking forward to Hillsboro hosting a great event,” said Kansas Cal Ripkin State Commissioner Paul Unruh.
This tournament is an opportunity for the city of Hillsboro and Marion County to welcome visitors from a multi-state region and showcase all the great things that we have to offer.
“Putting a program of this size together will require many volunteers and businesses in the Hillsboro Community,” said Hillsboro Director of Parks and Recreation Jerry Mendoza. “Committees and groups will have to be started soon to get ideas and potential activities organized.”
The tournament’s host city is charged with hosting players while the tournament is in progress.
Tournament organizers require the athletes to participate in non-baseball activities before the tournament starts. Those activities vary by community but represent another opportunity to showcase what Hillsboro and Marion County have to offer. HRC, the City of Hillsboro and USD 410 have recently partnered together to invest nearly $70,000 to rebuild and restore Memorial Field and the fields at the Sports Complex.
“Anytime we are able to host an event that brings people to town we are excited about that. It allows us to showcase our community,” said Hillsboro Rec Commission President Clint Corby. “As a recreation commission, we are pleased to see the investment in reconditioning our fields already paying off.”
As planning progresses, volunteers will be needed to act as host families for athletes and visitors like host families that volunteer for the annual Trojan Classic basketball tournament. Volunteers will also be needed to help work the tournament. The Recreation Commission will post those opportunities once more information becomes available.
Hillsboro or Marion County have not hosted a Cal Ripken State tournament in over a decade, but the Recreation Commission is up for the challenge.
“I believe we, as a city, are ready for the task at hand,” said Mendoza. “If this tournament is successful, Hillsboro could be asked to host another regional tournament in the near future or can even bid to host the elite Cal Ripken Baseball League World Series!”
Additional communications will be sent out looking for committee candidates and all volunteers. Please check the HRC website and Facebook page for more information. For questions regarding this tournament or other HRC programs, please contact Jerry Mendoza at (620) 947-3490.
