The Steamboat Pilot & Today

On Saturday, the final three champions will be crowned as the Triple Crown World Series comes to a close in Steamboat Springs.

“It’s been good for us,” said Matt Van Alsburg of Triple Crown Sports. “The new format allowed our teams to enjoy more of Steamboat, and I think they all had a lot of fun.”

Last week marked the largest event of the three-week tournament in Steamboat Springs, with baseball teams from around the country battling for titles in five different divisions. The high point came Saturday night in the 12-and-under championship game, which was televised and will be aired on Altitude Sports & Entertainment later this summer.

“We had a great match in the final, and I’m sure it will make for great television,” Van Alsburg said.

The South Florida Extreme from Miami Lakes defeated the Rockhounds from Houston in the final, 1-0, to earn the 2008 title in the 12-and-under division. That game will be aired on Altitude at 2 p.m. Aug. 10.

The score wasn’t as close in the 9-and-under championship game, which also will be televised, at 4 p.m. Aug. 10. The SC Blue Rocks, from Saugus, Calif., defeated the Southern California Bandits from Norwalk, 12-0, in that game. The Humble Lightning from Houston won the 9-and-under division II title, and the Utah Dingers from Orem took top honors in the 12-and-under division II. The Jumbonos Stix from Spanish Fork, Utah, took top honors in the 14-and-under division.

It was the second of three weeks of baseball action in Steamboat Springs. In week one, which began July 21, the Santa Rosa Valleycats from San Fernando, Calif., won the 8-and-under division; the Texas Bobcats from Cypress topped the 10-and-under division; the Kaos from Corona, Calif., won the 10-and-under division II; Team Anderson from Placentia, Calif., won the 13-and-under division; and the Rocky Mountain Rage from Broomfield won the 14-and-under division.

This week, the baseball action continues with teams in the 11-and-under division, the 11-and-under division II and the 13-and-under division II taking the field. The games began Monday and wrap up Saturday night at Howelsen Hill.

Van Alsburg said this is the first year the tournaments have been spread out across the entire week. In the past, games began Wednesday and went straight through to Sunday. This year, play began Monday with opening ceremonies taking place that night. The teams took a break Thursday for the skills challenge and then resumed with the championship rounds Friday. Van Alsburg said the tournament normally wrapped up on Sunday.

However, last weekend, the championship games in two divisions were held Saturday evening for television. This weekend, all of the final games will be moved up to Saturday evening to allow teams to return home Sunday. Many of the players need to be back in time to start school Monday, Van Alsburg explained.

“We’ve been really happy with this new format,” he said. “It spreads things out a bit, and gives the teams more time to enjoy Steamboat Springs.”

—To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209 or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com