[July 22, 2011] Modesto stars set for Ruth tourney Tweet Jul 22, 2011 (The Modesto Bee - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Kevin Kramer's already is packing for his trip to UCLA, but the former Turlock High star has a bit more baseball to play before he heads south. A power-hitting shortstop, Kramer leads the Modesto Babe Ruth 18-and-under team into tonight's opener of the Pacific Southwest Regional. Modesto faces Antioch at 8 p.m. at Modesto Christian, the last of three opening-day games. Mountain View plays Utah at 3 p.m. and San Benito plays San Gabriel at 5:30 in the double-elimination event. Hollister receives the first-round bye. If Modesto wins, it plays the San Benito-San Gabriel winner Saturday at 8 p.m.. If Modesto loses, it will face the loser of that game Saturday at 5:30. Modesto's roster is full of former all-Stanislaus District stars, such as catcher Mason Ankeney (Beyer), pitchers Matt Jackson (Beyer) and Donnie Fairchild (Enochs), center fielder Kyle Robinson (Downey) and shortstop Klayton Miller (Modesto). About half the players were in college this spring, and the rest were finishing high school. Modesto won the regional and went to the World Series in 2008. That team had former Pitman stars Braden Hagens and Anthony Jakosa, and Orestimba's Terrance Marin. "That success helped convince some of the kids to play this summer," manager Bobby Swedberg said. "We try to keep a relaxed atmosphere. We're not trying to play 100 games during the summer, we'd rather play 30 or so games and focus on getting to this point of the season." Pacific SW Regional Tournament Babe Ruth 18-and-under At Modesto Christian Today: Mountain View vs. Utah, 3; San Gabriel vs. San Benito, 5:30; Modesto vs. Antioch 8. Saturday: Watsonville vs. Mountain View-winner, 3; San Gabriel-San Benito loser vs. Modesto-Antioch loser, 5:30; San Gabriel-San Benito winner vs. Modesto-Antioch winner at 8. MODESTO ROSTER (High school/College) Kevin Kramer, Turlock/UCLA; Donnie Fairchild, Enochs/MJC; Klayton Miller, Modesto/Stanislaus; John Armendariz, Johansen/Merced College; Cody Simar, Downey/Merced College; Jermey McDonald, Turlock/Stanislaus; Nick Romero, Enochs/MJC; Brandon Cummings, Hilmar/Stanislaus; Eric Guzman, Modesto Christian; Kyle Robinson, Downey/Stanislaus; Mason Ankeney, Beyer/MJC; Matt Jackson, Beyer/MJC; Andrew Freemyer, Summerville; Evan Schwartz, Modesto Christian/Stanislaus; Brent Ward, Ceres/Stanislaus; John Westberg, Turlock Christian; Kevin Walker, Pitman/MJC; Brian Dix, Enochs/MJC. To see more of The Modesto Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.modbee.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, The Modesto Bee, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]