Photos by Justin Cook | The Roanoke Times

Seth Wills (left) and Caleb Caldwell of the the Christiansburg O-Zone team joke around in the infield as they practice at Harkrader Sports Complex.

Caleb Caldwell reacts to a stinging line drive at practice.

CHRISTIANSBURG -- Steve Orndorff knows a team strength when he sees one, so the Christiansburg O-Zone coach is well aware what his all-star baseball team's biggest weapon is.

"We don't expect to win many games 2-1 because we've got a team full of big hitters," Orndorff said. "We're pretty good in the field, but we're a much better hitting team. We aren't a really fast team either, so we rely on getting on base and letting our big mashers spread the ball around."

Even the smallest player on the team, Bailey Orndorff, the coach's son, displayed some power in last week's Dixie Youth state tournament. In the fourth game of the tournament, Christiansburg was down one run in the bottom of the sixth, which is the final inning at this level. Orndorff came up with runners on second and third and two outs. After going down two strikes, Orndorff hit a walk-off home run that kept Christiansburg in the winner's bracket.

So far, coach Orndorff's reliance on power hitting (and a dash of late inning heroics) is working. The proof is his team of 11- and 12-year-olds has become the first Christiansburg youth team to ever win the state championship, at any level. In doing so, Christiansburg advanced to the Dixie O-Zone World Series this weekend in Pascagoula, Miss.

Though they went undefeated in the state tournament, preparing for play was tricky for Orndorff and his players. Christiansburg hosted the O-Zone state tournament at the Harkrader Sports Complex. As the host team, Christiansburg received an automatic bid into the tournament and therefore was not allowed to play in the preceding district tournament.

Automatically advancing to the state tournament made the road to the World Series easier, but it also meant Orndorff and his players spent four solid weeks practicing before playing their first game.

"Waiting to play was really tough, but it was all worth it," pitcher and shortstop Caleb Caldwell said. "Practicing so much in this heat we've had wasn't much fun, but winning definitely was."

Caldwell's pitching performance in the state tournament solidified his status as ace of the Christiansburg staff. Dixie rules allow pitchers to throw 13 innings in a tournament. Caldwell threw all 13 allotted, including five in the championship game against Rustburg.

At age 12, Caldwell throws a fastball, curveball, knuckleball and change-up. An effective knuckleballer is hard to find in this age group, but Caldwell learned the pitch from his older brother Kin, who used it while playing at Ferrum College.

"Most people say I'm a hard thrower, so I just try to throw strikes," Caldwell said. "I usually can't throw my change-up worth anything, so I started using the knuckleball as an off-speed pitch."

According to his coach, Caldwell will be showcasing his pitching talents in the first game of the World Series against Arkansas when the national tournament opens Saturday.

"Caldwell's knuckleball is nasty, and he's developed as a pitcher way beyond his years," Orndorff said. "I think travel ball and pitching camps have made him an amazing pitcher for his age."

Along with Caldwell, Christiansburg's pitching staff includes Zack Chase, Dave Quesenberry, Bailey Orndorff and left-handers Aaron Jackson and Seth Wills.

Wills is also Christiansburg's regular first baseman. At the state tournament, he swung a potent bat. Before the tournament even began, Wills won the home run hitting contest the first day the teams gathered. Of 10 pitches he saw in the contest, Wills blasted five homers.

"The home run derby was pretty awkward, but it was fun," Wills said. "I really just went out there and had fun. The pitching machine was a little wild, but I got used to it. I'll be competing in the World Series home run derby, too."

Though none of the Christiansburg O-Zoners has played outside of Virginia before, tournament experience should not be a problem. Eleven of the 12 players on the roster play on traveling teams in the area. Nine play on Orndorff's Christiansburg Crushers team and two 11-year-olds play on the younger Christiansburg Futures team.

Seth Wills of the Christiansburg O-Zone pops a home run during batting practice at Harkrader Sports Complex. Before in last week’s Dixie Youth state tournament, Wills won the home run hitting contest the first day the teams gathered.

"The competition in travel ball is great, and it's good to get a lot of experience," Caldwell said.

Even 11-year-old Christian Wallace can see the difference travel baseball can play.

"Playing with the older guys makes it tougher, but you have to learn from it," Wallace said. "I think playing for the Futures has helped me play better with the older guys on this team."

The team embarked on the 12-hour drive to Mississippi on Thursday. The town of Christiansburg offered to pay for buses, but coaches and parents decided to car pool instead. Orndorff hopes the trip will be successful, but more importantly, an unforgettable experience for the players.

"We're really excited to be advancing and representing Virginia," Orndorff said, "but we really have no idea what to expect when we get down to Mississippi. I would love to win a couple games, but we just hope to have a lot of fun and do the best we can."