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Visalia All Stars Repeat as Cal Ripken World Series Champs

By Justin Willis, KSEE24 News
August 17, 2012 Updated Aug 17, 2012 at 7:40 PM PDT

Here's this year's Visalia all stars, fresh off another world series title.

This one earned in Massachusetts, beating a team from Burlington 21-0.

Frank Durazo, Manager: "People know Visalia now throughout the country in Cal Ripken circles and we were probably one of the favorites."

After back to back titles, you think the team would still be caught up in that championship moment.

But boys will be boys.

The MVP went straight to Starbucks.

And some of the guys were still laughing about the crazy chef at Pizzeria Villafranca in Burlington, where the boys were celebrating last night.

Connor Kelly, 2012 All-Star: "The dude that was a chef, but he came out and was dancing and screaming and yelling."

Zane Thompson was the winning pitcher in the championship game, with Buddy Cervantes getting the last out via strikeout.

But Jace Chamberlain was the series MVP.

"Last year we worked real hard. This year we worked just as hard, or harder. So once the team starts getting along and everything, working hard together, we're like family."

Chamberlain was also the MVP of last year's Cal Ripken World Series.

Here's one reason for the back to back MVPs.

This year, in the semi-final against a team from New York, he went the entire six innings, and allowed no hits, striking out 18 batters.

He earned that frappacino.

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