Lexington's Southeastern 12U All-Stars in the Cal Ripken Final Four

Today, Lexington’s own Southeastern 12U All-Stars are playing in the Final Four of the Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series in Branson, Missouri. Yesterday, the team from Kentucky representing the Ohio Valley defeated the kids from Lutz, Florida, 9-1, following a weather delay that knocked out the game’s live stream capabilities.

Now in the semifinals, Lexington will play a powerhouse out of Windsor, California, for a spot in the title game. The Kentucky and California teams are both No. 1 seeds from their respective groupings.

You can watch today’s semfinal game live on Watch Stadium at 3 p.m ET.

It’s such a big deal; North Carolina star Armando Bacot sent well wishes (he’s a huge Southeastern fan) along with uplifting messages from the correct shade of blue, people like Kentucky Baseball’s Nick Mingione and Kentucky Football‘s Mark Stoops, Dane Key, and Devin Leary.

Here’s Bacot wishing his young friends in Kentucky good luck via Southeastern’s Facebook page.

You, too, can show your support of the young Kentuckians by following along this afternoon.

#BeatCalifornia

Watch a replay of Wednesday’s win

Once the live-streaming equipment was fixed yesterday, the broadcast picked up the game in the top of the fourth inning when Kentucky was already up 8-1.

Tune in to get you ready for today.

About the 2023 Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series

The Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series is 10-day, 34-team event featuring clubs from throughout the United States and from Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Japan, Bahamas, The Netherlands, Korea, Mexico, Canada, Australia, and the Caribbean.

It began with six groups in pool play:

• Group A: Waipahu, HI (Pacific Southwest); Florence, AL (Southwest); Yardley, PA; Chicago, IL; Glen Allen, VA; Branson, MO.

• Group B: Lutz, FL (Southeast); Southeast Denver, CO (Midwest Plains); Honolulu, HI; Marlboro, NJ; Bryant, AR (Arkansas); Twin Falls, ID.

• Group C: Easton, MA (New England); Southeast Lexington, KY (Ohio Valley); West Fargo, ND; Kennewick, WA; Hot Springs, AR; Cherry Hill, NJ.

• Group D: Flood City, PA (Middle Atlantic); Black Hills, WA (Pacific Northwest); Dover, NH; West Raleigh, NC; Boonville, MO (Missouri); Windsor, CA.Group E: Sydney, Australia; San Nicholas, Aruba; Seoul, South Korea; Nuevo Leon, Mexico; Yilan, Taiwan.

• Group E: Sydney, Australia; San Nicholas, Aruba; Seoul, South Korea; Nuevo Leon, Mexico; Yilan, Taiwan.

• Group F: Calgary, Canada; Kansai, Japan; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Guayama, Puerto Rico; San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Now, only four teams remain as Kentucky aims to make that final game, where either Honolulu, Hawaii, or Black Hills, Washington, will be the final opponent.

Good luck to the boys from the Veterans Park!