The Spanish Springs 12-year-old Cal Ripken All Stars did not have a good day in California Wednesday. The Nevada state champions lost 14-4 in a four-inning decision to Elk Grove, Calif. in regional tournament action.



Spanish Springs coach Jeff McCusker said his team had eight errors and what he called three more mental errors during the lopsided loss. The skipper admitted the miscues really hurt his squad.

“The kids weren’t focused after they made some mistakes,” McCusker said. “They didn’t show up to play.”

Spanish Springs struck first but Elk Grove took the lead in the bottom of the first with three runs. The California club added four more in the second inning.

“The kids dropped their heads and didn’t recover after the second inning,” McCusker said.

Spanish Springs added two runs in the third but Elk Grove tallied up the final seven. Elk Grove hitters bashed two home runs over 300 feet, McCusker said.

“It was pretty miserable … A totally different team showed up here than played in the state tournament,” he said.

McCusker said that travel may have been a factor. Spanish Springs plays well at home and has had problems on the road in the past.

Spanish Springs plays today at 7 p.m. against the loser of a game between the host team San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield, which won the regional tournament last year.