photo credit: Michelle Marques
Trish Collins and John Hansen at Benicia Field in Rohnert Park.

A Rohnert Park youth baseball team is heading to next year’s world series.

Benicia Field is where the Cal Ripken Rohnert Park 11 and under – soon to be 12 and under – All Star Team practice and play their games. It’s right next to a pool and a dog park, and on this sunny morning I meet with Coach John Hansen, and board member Trish Collins, to talk about the momentum that propelled their team into the World Series.

“My son Justin, he is one of the players,” said Trish Collins. “It's a really cool team because about eight or nine of the players have been together since they were eight years old. And so they've really learned to trust each other and become really a solid baseball team, and it's been really fun to watch all of the players develop.”

Collins says this youth league is part of a larger international organization.

“We provide youth baseball to youth in, you know, mid Santa Rosa South from age 4 to 12. There's a parent organization, Babe Ruth, and then that serves kids who are a little bit older, 13 to to 18, I believe. And then Cal Ripkin, that organization serves kids who are 4 to 12 years old. It's similar to Little League, but the differences are things like field size, kids play on a bigger field and start pitching a little bit younger,” said Collins.

Hansen says he took over as head coach of this team last year.

“I don't have a child on the team so I just have a different perspective than any father could have and I believe that that makes a difference for everybody - to to believe that I'm out here for everybody instead of just one person,” Hansen said.

He says the boys on the team really proved their motivation this past year.

“I remember one time I get I got here a half an hour early which for me is a little bit late - and I got here and the entire team was here already waiting for me and it almost it brought tears to my eyes,” Hansen said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, they care so much!’ And um, it was really that passion for it that took us to the championship.”

The team did quite well at the state tournament, except for one game, but Hansen says the main goal was to get to the Pacific Southwest Regional competition for a chance to move on to the World Series.

“I think they learned from that loss in the state tournament and just, it toughened them up,” said Hansen. “It helped them understand what kind of focus they need to bring to every game and how to pace themselves because we have to play two games on that last day to win the championship. And boy, they came into that second game, totally focused 100%.”

Hansen describes the game against Hawaii Kai, who tends to win the Regional every year…

“We took the lead and then they took the lead back from us and we just kept playing hard and then all of a sudden we just exploded,” said Hansen.

(Sound of the Regional championship)

The woman cheering loudly is Trish Collins, whose son Justin smacks a three-run home run in the championship game, pulling Rohnert Park ahead of Hawaii and turning the tide of the game. Justin’s teammates all gather at homeplate to welcome him, with some of the boys falling on the ground as Justin touches the base, and some high fiving each other while jumping up and down.

Their coach reminds them to get back to the game, and Hansen says it was a thrilling moment.

“Once we got going, it was hard to stop us at that point and that's why we ended up with such a big lead and man, it was, it was fun to watch,” said Hansen.

Collins says the team had the option to compete against other 11 and under teams, or play in the 2026 World Series against other 12 and under teams. So they are training this next season as the 12U All Star team and will head to Branson, Missouri for the Cal Ripkin World Series in August. Collins says that gives them time to raise funds to get the players and their families to the games.

“I've estimated that for a family of four between flight, hotel, and car, it'll be between $45-- and $4800 a person,” said Collins.

The boys have already been recognized for their accomplishment.

“The city gave us all recognition awards and then we went to the State Capital. I became a grandfather that weekend. I wasn't able to go but that was they got to go and do a tour of the state capital and got recognition there too,” said Hansen.

“So Damon Connolly, our Representative, was able to get certificates for all the kids and recognize their amazing achievement because we're the first team in Rohnert Park to go to the World Series,” Collins said.

You can follow the team on their journey at RPCRWorldSeries.com