All-star games will be missing from the local youth recreation complex this summer. For the past six summers, the Cherokee County Youth Recreation Complex was alive with the crack of bats, cheering grandpas and grandmas and coaches yelling instructions to their players as the site played host to a state tournament.

That streak ends now.

Local Cal Ripken League chairman Tim Blackwell said there’s simply more competition now to host the tournaments.

“There are just more teams playing Cal Ripken League baseball and more sites that want to host the tournaments,” Blackwell said.

But Blackwell is optimistic the local complex will be selected as a coveted Southeast tournament site next year for either the Mite, Minor or Major League all star tournaments.

Despite not hosting a tournament, the local Cal Ripken League will be sending all-star teams to sites around the state this summer.

The local Mite League all-stars (ages 7 and 8) start things off on July 1 at Duncan.

The local league will field 2 of the 16 teams in the state tournament.

Next up will be the local Minor League all-stars (ages 9 and 10) who will travel to Charleston for a tournament that begins on July 8.

The local all-stars will have to battle 16 other teams to capture the state championship.

The following day, the Major League all-stars (ages 11 and 12) begin their quest for a state title at Aiken.

The local team has the best odds to bring home a state title with just four other teams in the tournament.

Typically, Gaffney sends two teams to the Minor and Major League state tournaments but money woes have even trickled down to youth baseball. Blackwell said high travel costs are the reason league officials decided to send a lone representative to each tournament.

However, that decision to stock one team with the best players, should increase the team’s chances of advancing far into the tournament, Blackwell said.

“I think they all have a good chance,” he said.