By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

Marion will host the 11-year-old division of the Kansas Cal Ripken youth baseball tournament July 22 through 26.

Eight teams from around Kansas will compete to move onto the Midwestern Regionals in Lyons, featuring teams from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado.

For hosting the event, The Cottonwood League — teams from Marion, Hillsboro, Peabody, Cottonwood, Centre, and Strong City — 11-year-olds receive a slot in the tournament as host team. Tournament organizer Alex Case requested the tournament because he believes the team can challenge the stiff statewide competition.

Marion has hosted Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth tournaments in the past. Two years ago, Marion was the site of the Midwestern regional for 12-year-olds.

“We knew we had a good group of kids that age,” Case said. “We ended up getting fourth out of eight teams.”

Marion was chosen from a pool of three or four towns vying for the 11-year-olds tournament. The town was chosen partially because of its dependability, as evidenced by hosting other tournaments.

“Marion has a good reputation in the state,” Babe Ruth District 4 commissioner David Branson said. “The state people wanted it there.”

Success in these tournaments is also not foreign to Marion. Last year, the 13-year-olds Cottonwood League All-Stars, made up of mostly Marion players, won the Babe Ruth state tournament and went on to regionals in Iowa.