FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Down at Visalia’s Riverway Sports Park, the Visalia Blue 9U all-star team is getting ready to continue its post-season run.<\/p>\n
“I think our record was 21-1 throughout the season,” says coach Mark Green. “We defended our championship.”<\/p>\n
The back-to-back state champs are headed to the Cal Ripken regional tournament.<\/p>\n
“They’ve matured a lot in the last year,” Green said. “Their baseball abilities have increased quite a bit.”<\/p>\n
“We practice really hard,” said Camden. “We have really good coaches.”<\/p>\n
Visalia will face the best teams from California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii.<\/p>\n
That pool of talent includes a familiar foe.<\/p>\n
Out at Elite Performance Center in Clovis, the Buchanan Red 9U all-stars are prepping for that same tournament.<\/p>\n
Visalia and Buchanan have quite the history.<\/p>\n
Visalia Blue beat Buchanan Red in back-to-back state championships.<\/p>\n
“There was a bit of bad blood,” Green said.<\/p>\n
As the kids have matured, so has the friendly rivalry between the top two 9u teams in the Valley.<\/p>\n
“It’s definitely better than last year for sure,” says Connor. “We did like a team prayer in the championship game.”<\/p>\n
Visalia and Buchanan came together on the field last month.<\/p>\n
Now, both are heading to the same postseason spot yet again.<\/p>\n
“As manager of these guys, of course I’m going to think that we’ve got the best chance of winning because I believe we’ve got the best team of winners,” Green said.<\/p>\n
The regional tournament starts next week, and there’s a chance that both Visalia and Buchanan will meet yet again in the championship game.<\/p>\n
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