Costs Pile Up For Fans Who Travel

SPRINGDALE — Imagine a kindly grandmother placing an apple pie on the window sill while a group of boys play baseball just yards away.

It’s a picture Norman Rockwell could’ve painted from the 1950s. But that idyllic slice of Americana has been replaced by the often hectic and expensive venture that is youth sports. If grandma wants to watch, she’ll have to travel and the only apple pies the boys will eat will likely come from the drive-through window of a fast food restaurant.

Hotels and restaurants began filling up in Springdale on Friday for the start of the 12-Year-Old Cal Ripken Tournament at the Tyson Sports Complex. Ten teams from as far away as Andrews, Texas, and Orange Grove, Miss., will compete for the championship and the chance to advance to the Cal Ripken World Series in Aberdeen, Md. Aug. 8-18.

As many as 19 games could be played in the double-elimination regional, where the finals are scheduled for Tuesday at the Tyson Complex. That’s a lot of trips to the park and a big hit in the pocket books for relatives who’ve decided to make the trip.

“We’re probably going to spend around $1,500 for this tournament, depending on how long we stay,” said Cathy Vaughan, who is in town to watch her nephew, Cyler Clark, play for the team from Southeast Oklahoma.”

Expenditures are sometimes reduced by having travel teams divided among host families, but that didn’t happen this year with the Springdale tournament. Even with a discount, Vaughan and her son, Cody, 22, and nephew, Cyler, 12, will pay about $300 for a three-night stay at the Northwest Arkansas Holiday Inn in Springdale.

“Cyler eats, sleeps and breaths baseball, and he’s good at it,” Vaughan said. “That’s why we do this. Being part of team helps his confidence and helps him, socially, in meeting new people. Plus, the more you keep kids busy with something they like, the less likely they’re going to be off somewhere getting into trouble.”

Alfonzo Valenzuela of Andrews, Texas, also cites the benefits of being part of something in why his son, Aaron Valenzuela, plays Cal Ripken baseball. Valenzuela expects to spend at least $1,400 after his family left the Midland, Texas, area for the 12-hour drive to Springdale.

“This group of kids have been playing together for five years, and it’s important to them,” Valenzuela said. “If Aaron wanted to quit tomorrow, then that’s OK. But as long as he wants to keep playing, we’re going to be there supporting him.”

Most of the players involved in the tournament have been playing in regular summer league with little travel costs. But there’ll be more expenditures for the families of the winning team the winning team that advances to the national tournament in Aberdeen, Md.

“If our team could possibly win this tournament, we’re certainly going to do everything we can to get to Maryland,” Vaughan said. “That’s the World Series. That’s what you play for.”

AT A GLANCE

12-Year-Old Cal Ripken Southwest Regional

At Tyson Sports Complex, Springdale

Friday

Game 1: Little Rock 12, Madison Co. 5

Game 2: Southeastern Okla. vs. Springdale. 8:30 p.m. (SW)

Game 3: FS Church League vs. Bryant, 8:30 p.m. (SE)

Game 4: Mountain Home 10, Twin Rivers, La., 0

Saturday

Game 5: Andrews, Texas vs. Winner Game 1, 5:30 p.m. (SE)

Game 6: Orange Grove, Miss. vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30 p.m. (SW)

Game 7: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 2, 8 p.m. (SW)

Game 8: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4, 8 p.m. (SE)

Sunday

Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 5, 3:30 p.m. (SW)

Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30 p.m. (SE)

Game 11: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 1 p.m. (SW)

Game 12: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 4, 1 p.m. (SE)

Game 13: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 11, 6 p.m. (SE)

Game 14: Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 12, 6 p.m. (SW)

Monday

Game 15: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 3 p.m. (SW)

Game 16: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14, 5:30 p.m. (SW)

Game 17: Winner Game 16 vs. Loser Game 15, 8 p.m. (SW)

Tuesday

Championship Game

Game 18: Winner Game 15 vs. Winner Game 17, TBD (SW)

Game 19: Winner Game 18 vs. Loser Game 18, TBD (SW) IF NECESSARY

Upcoming Events