* Editor’s note: In the second of a three-part series featuring the nine summer tournament teams representing Davis Little League, we focus on the 9-10, 10-11 and 11-12 squads.

Being selected to represent one’s community — either as a coach or player — in any Little League is a well-earned honor. But, according to coaches in the Davis National League, it also remains a privilege, and 9-10 All-Star coach Aaron Difuntorum is quick to point that out.

“My hope is the kids realize what a privilege it is to be selected to this team,” Difuntorum told The Enterprise. “That all their hard work has been recognized and has afforded them the opportunity to represent their city. Baseball has always been given a bad rap as being slow and boring, especially at younger ages.

“This can be a huge hurdle to overcome and, with only two weeks to coach these kids (before the first game), it’s a daunting task.”

But the coach says he and his staff have held spirited practices. At the end of each “we have contests and the kids have a blast with them.”

Difuntorum says these games within a game help his kids shed any complacency that might come with a practice, and that his players often want to go past regular practice time and keep the bonus activities going.

“When our season comes to an end, I not only hope the kids had a great time … but find a new love for the game,” says the man who most recently managed the majors’ Nationals.

Mike Dugger wants his 10-11 National-division players to understand “a sense of accomplishment,” pointing out that “the kids worked hard to get to this point and we would like all of them to feel that all the practice, hard work and dedication to the game is rewarded with (earning a spot) on the team. They have accomplished a lot to be here.”

Scott Carrell — another longtime youth baseball coach — says he and assistants Brent Brown and Doug Parscal want their 11-12 National League All-Stars to finish the upcoming postseason “knowing they did their best. I try to stress with players that there are only two things they can control — their own attitude and their own effort. If they have a great attitude and give 100 percent, then good things will happen.”

With nine teams competing for Davis Little League in five separate tournaments, keeping the “wheres” and “whens” straight can be a challenge for local fans. Here’s a look at the rosters and schedules for the aforementioned DLL National teams …

9-10s — Roster: Luke Carrell, Rockwell Lybbert, Nate Thompson, Conor Hedin, Nathan Faber, Emma Dean, Ethan Lo, Cameron DeMasi, Adam Hasson, Chris D’Angelo, Will Fehrenbacher and Caden Difuntorum.

First game: Saturday vs. Vacaville American (10 a.m.) at the Davis Little League Complex.

10-11s — Roster: Cole Bertran, Mark Datanagan, Luke Dugger, Jack Johnson, Charlie Karagosian, Cameron Knutson, Sean O’Hara, Jacob Schneider, Zane Schouten, Giacomo Sorrentino, Charlie Streeb and Kel Williams.

First game: Wednesday at Camarena Park (Beamer Street, Woodland) vs. Dixon at 5 p.m.

11-12s — Roster: Zach Bergevin, Tyler Brown, Zach Carrell, Aedon Enriquez, Lev Farris Goldenberg, Jack Henry Grote, Shinye Ho, Ava McCray, Caden Neel, Adrian Sanchez and Laurent Schwartz.

First game: Saturday, June 29, at Centennial Park (Browns Valley Parkway, Vacaville) vs. Dixon at 10 a.m.

Note: Friday’s final series installment focuses on the Davis Little League Junior teams and the new 50-70 tournament entry.

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