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Danbury Team Opens Cal Ripken World Series On Saturday

DANBURY, Conn. -- Danbury will play the Pacific Southwest champion on Saturday, Aug. 9, in its first game of the Cal Ripken World Series in Aberdeen, Md.

The Danbury Cal Ripken baseball team will play in the Cal Ripken World Series beginning Saturday in Aberdeen, Md.

The Danbury Cal Ripken baseball team will play in the Cal Ripken World Series beginning Saturday in Aberdeen, Md.

Photo Credit: Danbury Cal Ripken Facebook page

Danbury won the New England championship to earn its berth in the Ripken World Series, which features 11- and 12-year-old baseball teams. 

The kids from Danbury will take the field at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. 

“Congratulations to the Danbury Hatters from Connecticut for qualifying for the 15th annual tournament,” said Baseball Hall of Famer and Ripken Baseball founder, Cal Ripken Jr. “Each year, this event showcases the next generation of baseball with the best 12u baseball players on the planet. We look forward to hosting the Danbury Hatters in Aberdeen and creating an experience that they will remember for a lifetime.”

The World Series includes 10 teams from the United States and eight international teams. New Zealand and Puerto Rico were added this year to the Ripken World Series, and Japan is the three-time defending champion of the World Series.

Opening ceremonies will begin Friday, Aug. 8, followed by the first game of the tournament as host team Harford County takes on Middle Atlantic at 8 p.m. Pool play competition will take place from Aug. 9 to Aug. 13. On Thursday, Aug. 14, the tournament will see four games of single elimination competition beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Danbury went 11-0 and outscored opponents 87-14 in winning Connecticut and New England championships. In the New England Regional final, Danbury beat Cranston, R.I., 7-2, behind the pitching of Justin Solimine. Zach Demko's two-run home run helped Danbury to the victory.

Rich Wekerle, Solimine and Demko are the mainstays of the pitching staff for manager Ken Clancy. 

Danbury is 23-3, with two of its losses coming by one run to New Milford. 

For complete information on the tournament, visit www.ripkenbaseball.com/world_series. For game updates and behind the scenes with Team New England, follow @CRWS_NewEngland on Twitter.

Readers can support the team's trip by making a donation online. Readers can also follow the team on its GameChanger page. 

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