Yuma 11U All-Stars win state title, head to regional tournament

Yuma’s 11U Cal Ripken All-Stars turned a state championship into something bigger for the city: a trip to Fallon, Nevada, where they will represent Arizona as the lone state entry in their age division at the Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament.

The regional runs July 13-18, with check-in set for July 12. Yuma will line up against state champions from Hawaii, Utah, California and Nevada, with tournament games centered at Oats Park and other Fallon venues. The schedule also includes a mandatory coaches meeting and opening ceremonies with a parade of teams, marking the start of a week that could push the Yuma boys one step closer to the Cal Ripken 11U World Series in Crown Point, Indiana, from Aug. 6-15.

Head coach Francisco Rios said the run means a great deal for the city and highlighted the depth of talent in Yuma, where 13 players now have a chance to show what the community has built. For a local program that has spent the summer climbing from county pride to state champion, the regional stage offers a bigger spotlight on the coaching, parent support and field work that make youth baseball possible here.

That support is already part of the plan. The team is scheduled to hold a raffle and snack bar during league games June 27-28 at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex to help cover travel expenses. The city describes the 50-acre complex on East 8th Street as a multi-sport site that can host youth baseball and softball leagues and tournaments, and Yuma Baseball lists it as one of the league’s field locations.

The trip also fits into a wider path in Cal Ripken Baseball. Babe Ruth League recommends the Major Division for 11- and 12-year-old players, using six-inning games and pitcher workload limits designed to match development with competition. Fallon hosted the same 11U Pacific Southwest regional in 2025, when Rohnert Park, Northern California, won the title, underscoring that Yuma’s team is stepping into a well-established regional proving ground.