Local team headed to World Series

The Manatee Cal Ripken 10-and-under baseball team is headed to the 2015 Cal Ripken Baseball World Series. 

The local All-Star team is one of 10 teams who will be competing in the tournament, which runs Aug. 8 through Aug. 15, in Jonesboro, Ark. 

Manatee advanced to the World Series after capturing the Southeast Regional title with a 1-0 victory against Glen Allen (Virginia) July 25. 

The team has won 23 games this All-Star season, including victories over North Tampa (3-2) in the district championship and Orlando (13-2) in the state championship earlier this month. 

Manatee reached the 2014 Babe Ruth Southeast Regional tournament last year while playing 9U. 

With less than two weeks in between the southeast regional tournament and the world series, the team hasn’t been able to hold a traditional fundraiser. Due to the increased costs associated with out-of-state travel, the team has set up a GoFundMe account to help offset some of the travel expenses for the players and their families. 

Those wishing to contribute can do so by visiting gofundme.com/ManateeAllStars10U?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_content=cta_button&utm_campaign=invite_n.