Tracy Press

Tracy Nationals take Babe Ruth district title.

Coach “Papa” Joe Saenz congratulates his team after they won the Cal Ripken District 1 title Thursday. Photo by Bob Brownne/Tracy Press.

Tracy’s 10-year-old Babe Ruth National All-Stars claimed the Cal Ripken District 1 title tonight with a 4-3 win over the Ripon All-Stars at Castleberg Park in Riverbank.

The team is now headed to the state championship tournament, which begins July 10 in Clovis. The second-place Ripon team will also go to the state tournament.

Assistant coach Michael Serrato said the team once again got solid pitching from Jacob Serrato and Alex Camarillo, but coaches reminded the team afterward that from now, on the opposing teams will also have good pitching. He added that the Ripon team was just a sample of what they’ll face next month.

“These guys were probably the best hitters we’ve seen all tournament,” coach Serrato said. “Our defense had to step up, and the boys did it. Our bats are getting stronger and stronger, and we’d like to keep that momentum going into state.”

The Ripon team got on the scoreboard first today with a run in the top of the third and played effective defense to keep Tracy from getting base hits for most of the game.

In the bottom of the third inning, Tracy batters launched a four-run rally that would give them the lead.

Leadoff batter Santiago Rubio knocked a base hit to right-center field, followed by Tucker Morris double to deep left field. Jake Serrato hit an infield single to score a run, and Julian Vasquez hit a two-run double to left field and eventually scored.

Ripon put Anthony Andrews on base on an error with one out in the fourth, and base hits from William Kamps and Mike Fisher sent him home. Defensive plays from right fielder Rubio and second baseman Morris put the next two runners out at first.

Ripon scored again in the fifth before Rubio threw a runner out at second, and Alex Camarillo struck out the next two batters.

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