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Steamboat Springs — Two Steamboat Springs Little League all-star teams head to Denver for state tournaments this weekend with different levels of experience.

Each, however, have the same goal.

The 9- and 10-year-old team will be playing at the state level for the first time, and the 11- and 12-year-old team will be making the trip for the fourth consecutive year.

Regardless, each team enters today's opening games confident Steamboat can play with the best teams in the state.

"The expectations are to go down, play some serious baseball but have some serious fun," said Craig Pasternak, the 9- and 10-year-old coach. "They're 9 and 10 years old. It's focusing on the game but it's also enjoying the experience. This is as far as they can go at this age. This is the World Series for them."

The younger group opens play at 12:30 p.m. today in Denver against Cherry Creek. The older team plays at 9 a.m. today in Denver against Grand Junction.

The 9- and 10-year-old team cruised through its district tournament, winning any way possible. After getting solid pitching in the first two games, Steamboat pounded the ball in the championship game to make state.

Pasternak said the state tournament is a relative unknown. Steamboat will see teams as good as they've played all year, and he hopes Steamboat can rise to the occasion.

"You just got to work through the games," player Colton Pasternak said. "It's one game at a time. With a little luck and some good playing we might go all the way."

New outlook for older team

For the 11- and 12-year-old team, the state tournament hasn't been too kind. Each of the past three years, Steamboat has been ousted early. Save for a win against Boulder two years ago, Steamboat hasn't had much luck.

But with most of the team having been there before and after playing more than 80 games since September, coach Tim Bishop said the outlook is a little different this year.

"These are really good teams that we're facing," Bishop said. "They're the best the state has to offer. But we've seen the big city lights. I want them to feel like this is what we do. We've been there and done this."

Bishop said the key for his team will be to get early leads and build on them. He said he's reiterated the point all week to be aggressive at the plate and in the field. In essence, Bishop wants to make the other team beat Steamboat.

"I think we're taking a more confident group than years' past," he said. "But at this age that can change on a dime. My goal is for us to jump up early on these guys. I think that confidence will build from there. A lot of these guys have played in so many games across the state. They know they can do it. They've played against these kids."