​Ripley U15 ball team wins Owen Sound tournament

The Ripley Under-15 (U15) baseball team won the Owen Sound tournament after almost a week of competition.

The Ripley team played its first game Friday night, Aug. 16, against the Owen Sound Hawks 1, which ended in a 7-7 tie.

The two games set for Saturday were rained out, followed by a delay Sunday, with the team set to play two games, but due to the delay, playing only one, against the Hanover Hurricanes. This was a very close game, but Ripley edged the Hurricanes, 11-10.

Tuesday, Aug. 20, was a double-header, as Ripley faced Beaver Valley and won, 11-4, and then took on the Owen Sound Hawks 2, and won by a commanding 10-1 score.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, was the final against the Owen Sound Hawks 1, and Ripley won the game, 15-3, to take the tournament. This game was called in the fifth inning due to a mercy call.

Manager Debbie Taylor said the Ripley team had outstanding pitching throughout the tournament with many strike-outs.

In the final game, the team saw great/very accurate/quick fielding, with three of the five innings, three-up and three-down.

“Everyone had a fantastic game in the field and on the bats,” said Taylor. “The players really came together as a team.”

Star hitter in the final was Colton Cleave who had an in-field home run to start off the second inning. At the next bat, he had a triple, and two RBIs, and at his third bat, the Hawks intentionally walked him.



The Ripley U15 baseball team wins the Owen Sound tournament; photo courtesy of Debbie Taylor