BENTONVILLE — The youth baseball fields at Memorial Park were abuzz with activity Thursday as many of the teams at the Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series got in a last practice.

Coaches could be heard yelling instructions and encouragement from the four fields. Field No. 2 was no different, other than the pitch of the voice.

New England Regional champion Danbury, Conn., had a two-hour practice and their manager was easy to spot.

Wearing a jersey with the No. 17, the Danbury manager gave tips and encouragement to every player who came to the plate during batting practice.

“Jake, that ball was over your head,” the manager shouted. “Come on!”

On the next pitch, Jake Matson ripped a double into left fi eld.

“Jake, that is how you hit,” the manager said.

A few minutes later, the Danbury third baseman had a question.

“Coach Lisa, who is hitting next?”

Coach Lisa?

The Danbury manager is Lisa Cianflone, and the former college soccer and fast-pitch softball player has quite a track record as a youth baseball manager.

After losing the regional final last season as 9-yearolds, Cianflone guided Danbury to the regional championship two weeks ago and a World Series berth this week. She has been coaching baseball since her son, Danbury catcher and outfi elder C.J. Cianflone, started tee ball.

And she is all business.

“This is quite an honor to play in the World Series, but this is not a vacation,” Cianfl one said.

Danbury opened the tournament with a 9-4 victory against Crown Point, Ind., on Friday, and the team was off on Saturday. Danbury plays Sarasota, Fla., at 3:30 p.m. today as pool play continues.

Cianflone played baseball in Brookfield, Conn., until a fast-pitch softball program was started. But she really never left baseball as her father, Augie DeLuca, was a coach and an umpire.

“I grew up on the baseball field, so baseball is in my blood,” she said. “I played baseball until I was 8 or 9, and then they started softball. I was the pitcher on the softball team for Brookfield High School. I played D-1 soccer and D-3 softball at Stony Brook University.”

When her son, C.J., was old enough to start competitive baseball four years ago, his mother jumped at the chance to coach the team.

“Coaching is a natural in my family; sports are in our blood,” Cianfl one said.

Rob Featherston has been around Cal Ripken Baseball for many years as the assistant director for the Southwest region, and the Bentonville native can’t recall another female manager coaching in a World Series.

“I’ve seen several in state tournaments and one in a regional tournament but never in a World Series,” Featherston said. “Lisa has a lot of energy, and she relates to her kids very well.”

Cianflone said there were doubters when she first started coaching baseball. That quickly ended as the victories mounted.

“It’s tough, it’s defi nitely tough,” Cianflone said. “This is a man’s sport. I remember one time when we were in Bethel (Conn.) and they said, ‘What did they do? Hire a mom to coach the team?’ We then smacked them 14-0. I’m not intimidated by it. I’m really along the lines of ‘Guys, come on.’

“Once they know you understand the game of baseball, they are very respectful to you.”

C.J. said he never doubted his mother’s coaching ability.

“She makes it real fun, too,” he said. “Our team plays well together.”

Lisa Cianflone, like all coaches who have a son or daughter on their team, said coaching her son has its challenges.

“Sometimes, I leave it to my assistant coaches to take care of C.J. for me,” Cianfl one said.