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Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium: Opened in 2002, 6,300 capacity, concrete and brick, 4 MLB spec natural grass 60'/70' diamonds, 4 skinned 60'/70' diamonds, synthetic Ripken Training Circle, 8 covered batting and pitching tunnels #AberdeenMD #ironbirds #starspangledbanners #ripkenway (at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium)
Mexico: It's Been A Pleasure
After an amazing 2015 Cal Ripken World Series, Team Mexico will be returning home as World Champions. It was a perfect week for the them. On the field, Team Mexico played as well as any team I've ever witnessed. Off the field they represented their country with honor and sportsmanship. They were an excellent team to be able to cover and I am so proud of everything they accomplished this year. There are definitely future Major League Baseball players on this team. Thank you to all the Team Mexico players, coaches, fans, and host families. - Adam Fornwalt
Southeast: Team USA’s stellar defense not enough to rival Mexico’s powerful first inning as they fall short, 5-3, in the World Championship
By Spencer Latran
Mexico came out firing on all cylinders, scoring 5 runs in the first inning, and although Team Southeast did not let up another run for the rest of the game, their hitting game did not have the power to beat them, as they fell, respectably, 5-3 in the World Championship in Cal Sr.’s Yard.
“They were just a good-hitting team, and we got a little rattled, “ said Southeast/USA Head Coach, Rick Pate. “It’s a big stage for these kids, for sure.”
Mexico started off the game with 6 singles in the first inning, one of which was an RBI Single. This was accompanied by a 3-run home run, making the score 5-0 going into the Bottom of the first inning. Southeast’s Payton Green was able to get things going for Team USA, stealing 2nd base and putting him in scoring position. #16 Sam Perez put the first run on the board for Team USA, hitting an RBI Single which scored Payton Green.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Sam Perez came up big again, this time hitting an RBI double which scored Payton Green for the 2nd time tonight, making the score 5-2.
For the next two innings, no hits or runs were made by either team, but in the bottom of the 6th inning, a Single followed by a 2nd base steal by Team USA’s #18 Blake McCain gave them a chance to score. #13 Xander Lietz was able to hit McCain home, putting Team Southeast within 2 runs of Mexico. Unfortunately, Team USA was not able to get a rally going, having trouble capitalizing on their at-bats, as Mexico became victorious in the World Championship.
“Like I said earlier in the week I feel like we can compete with anybody and I just had to let my kids know that.” said Coach Pate.
The Southeast/USA Player of the Game was #21 Zach Hurand, who pitched 5 scoreless innings against Mexico. This is the third time that Zach has won the Player of the Game award at the 2015 Cal Ripken World Series.
“It feels great to come out and represent my country, ” said Hurand.
After Garrett Moffett came off of the mound in the first inning, Zach was put on after throwing a decent number of pitches over the course of the week.
“I didn’t have the mindset of pitching, but I’m ready when I get called on… I just wanted to throw pitches that would keep them off-balance.”
“It’s just been an amazing experience to play with people from all around the world.” said Hurand. “We’ve talked about this week since the kids were nine years old, “ said Coach Pate. “We went to the 10U World Series down in Ocala, FL, and when we left there after losing in the semifinals, we made it a priority to get up here and compete for a week… I had 13 guys that just really put it on the line every game this whole summer. From getting off the plane and going to Under Armour to playing in the World Series has been amazing. And going through last night winning the National Championship and getting to play Mexico tonight was just phenomenal for us.”
Congratulations to Team Southeast as they gave a spectacular performance throughout the entirety of the 2015 Cal Ripken World Series, going 5-2. The award recipients are as follows:
Home Run Derby Champion - Blake McCain Player of the Game vs. Ohio Valley – Zach Hurand Player of the Game vs. Harford County – Blake McCain Player of the Game vs. Mid-Atlantic – Payton Green Player of the Game vs. Midwest Plains – Garrett Moffett Player of the Game vs. Pacific Southwest – Zach Hurand Player of the Game vs. Mid-Atlantic (U.S. Final) – Timothy Pate Player of the Game vs. Mexico – Zach Hurand All-United States Offensive Team – Joey Ferrari All-United States Offensive Team – Timothy Pate All-United States Defensive Team – Zach Hurand All-United States Defensive Team – Blake McCain United States Most Valuable Player – Timothy Pate
Mexico: 2015 Cal Ripken World Series Champions!
Team Mexico’s bread and butter throughout pool play was big 1st innings.
After not scoring any runs in the 1st innings of the past two games, they’d return to their old form by smashing through 5 runs against Team Southeast.
Jorge Ramos and Joel Ibarra would start the game off with back to back singles. A third single from Roque Salinas followed by an error would bring home Ramos to make it 1-0. Vidal Sotelo would join the hit fest, blasting the ball over the center field wall driving in 3 runs to make it 4-0. 3 more singles and a bases loaded walk would bring in Juan Cota to make it 5-0.
Team Southeast would chip away at the deficit all night. They’d score on RBI singles by Sam Perez in the 1st and 3rd innings, and an RBI single by Xander Lietz in the 6th would make it 5-3. Great defensive work from Joel Ibarra and the Team Mexico infield helped put down any potential Team Southeast rallies.
On the mound, Roque Salinas was solid for Team Mexico. He allowed 3 runs over 5 2/3 innings with 6 strike outs. Joel Ibarra would come in with one out left to record the save.
Salinas moves to 2-0 for the CRWS. He was named the International MVP for the entire Cal Ripken World Series.
Joel Ibarra, Vidal Sotelo, and Roque Salinas received All CRWS International Team honors for their overall play. Cristian Yanez and Erick Ordonez received All CRWS International Defensive Team honors.
Team Mexico finishes with a perfect 7-0 record for the 2015 Cal Ripken World Series. They outscored their opponents 55-12, never giving up more than 3 runs in any game.
Team Mexico wanted vengeance after last year’s loss to Team Southeast. They got it tonight.
-Adam Fornwalt
Mexico: World Championship Preview
It’s finally here! After a full week of Cal Ripken World Series action, we have finally arrived at the World Championship game!
Team Mexico has had a tremendous tournament. Their 6-0 record consists of a perfect game and a shutout. They’ve outscored their opponents 50-9 in six games and have not given up more than 3 runs in any of them.
After rolling through pool play undefeated, Team Mexico would take on Team Dominican Republic in the International Semifinals. Great pitching and defense held both sides stagnant through the 2nd inning. Team Mexico would wake up in the bottom of the 3rd, grabbing 6 runs off of 6 hits and a walk. Team Dominican Republic would get 3 runs back in the 4th making it 6-3, but it wouldn’t be enough. A solo shot from Roque Salinas in the 5th would make the final score 7-3.
In the International Championship game, Team Mexico would come up against their longtime rivals in Team Japan. The two met in an international friendly before pool play, which Team Mexico would win 8-2. After a back and forth 1st inning, Team Mexico would put up 5 runs in the next two to put them up early. Team Japan would score a run in the 4th to make it 5-1, but each team would score 2 in the 5th. A quick 6th inning for Team Japan would end the game at 7-3, sending Team Mexico back to the World Championship game for the second straight year.
Their opposition for tonight’s World Championship game is a foe Mexico knows all too well: Team Southeast. In the 2014 CRWS World Championship game it was Team Southeast who defeated Team Mexico to become champions.
Team Mexico has talked about avenging their loss since they arrived at the CRWS. Almost every interview, from coaches to players, has had connotation of this thought.
Tonight they get that chance.
Will Team Mexico be granted that vengeance? Or will Team Southeast win their second straight World Championship?
For live game updates, follow Team Mexico’s Twitter @CRWS_Mexico !
-Adam Fornwalt
Japan: The Transition Back Home
Less than 24 hours after a crushing defeat against Team Mexico in the International Championship Game at the 2015 Cal Ripken World Series, Team Japan is preparing to say goodbye to the Host Families, friends and competitors that they have grown close to throughout the last eight days.
After Friday night’s loss, the Japan faithful showed how much they truly care about the 12-year-old boys that came up one win short of appearing in the World Championship Game.
For nearly an hour following the final out that eliminated Team Japan, the Japan fan base smothered their beloved players with hugs, kisses and encouragement.
It was extra emotional for some Host Families as the 2015 Cal Ripken World Series would be the final year of their service.
“So proud of my Team Japan, they played their hearts out. Very sad that this was our last year hosting. But forever Team Japan,” said Ben Struve via Twitter.
It’s difficult to describe the moment and put it into words that give justice to just how special of a bond there is between Team Japan and their Host Families.
Teary-eyed and heartbroken children of Host Families, who graciously shared their homes with the team, all gathered around the boys in their Team Japan apparel and offered endless amounts of hugs and love.
The most powerful moment I witnessed was a players-only huddle that took place in the outfield of Cal Sr.’s Yard following the loss to Mexico. Each player took turns sharing his thoughts on what went wrong. While each boy spoke, the entire team was thoroughly focused. It was truly a sign of maturity and just how close this team has grown throughout the tournament.
“I always worry about how the boys will transition back to life in Japan after such a devastating end to this journey. All I know is that these boys represented our country in a fine way this week,” said Coach Nakagome.
That they did. I left Aberdeen Friday night feeling uneasy. This group is so likeable you just can’t help but cheer them on. From day one, it was very clear that the majority of teams were really looking forward to seeing and meeting Team Japan.
The 12-year-olds from Japan certainly didn’t disappoint the ones who adore them the most at the 2015 Cal Ripken World Series.
By Bobby Trosset
(@BobTrosset)
Australia: Team Brought Valuable Experience Into CRWS
By Kyle Stackpole
For a few international teams, the first time its players step on the field to play with one another is at the Cal Ripken World Series. Players from around the country come together for this event, hoping to immediately mesh together and bring back a World Series title.
This was always how Australia fielded its team. But for this year’s event, Baseball Australia strayed away from nationally selecting its team and decided it would send a charter-based team, one selected from only three or four clubs, to the states.
So five charter squads traveled to Lismore New South Wales to compete in the national championships, and the Swan Hills Aces charter team — comprised of players from three local clubs in Western Australia — became the first of such teams to represent its county in Aberdeen, Maryland for the Cal Ripken World Series.
“They were kind of trying to look at what’s better for them if they send an Australian team that doesn’t get to practice a lot together, or if they send a team that’s been practicing together for a few months,” head coach Arnie Noel said. “This is potentially a little bit of an experiment for us.”
The charter team is made up of 12 players from three clubs — East Hills, Swan Districts and Victoria Park Belmont. Noel is the Junior Development Officer for the Swan Districts Junior baseball club.
Furthermore, several players — Tyson Noel, Dusty Brown, Maddux Stivey, Trent Daniele, Jarryd Bain and BJ Cooke — have played together in the past as a part of Swan Districts, making this experience more of a family affair.
Baseball Australia’s decision to switch its selection process, however, didn’t pay off on the field. After the nationally drawn squad finished the 2014 Cal Ripken World Series with a record of 3-1, this year’s team had one win in five games.
Despite Team Australia’s performance over the past week and a half, Noel has enjoyed coaching such a tight-knit group at this worldwide event.
“It’s a fantastic experience,” Noel said. “We always talk about the kids, but we forget about the coaches. I had a great time here, and I know my assistants did as well.”
Follow Team Australia on Twitter at @CRWS_Australia and on the Cal Ripken World Series website at https://www.ripkenbaseball.com/world_series/teams/57.
Southeast: Team SE plays well all-around, beating Mid-Atlantic, 3-1, in the U.S. Championship
By Spencer Latran
Team Southeast was firing on all cylinders last night at Cal Sr.’s Yard and hungry for a rematch against Mid-Atlantic in this U.S. Championship. On the back of a dominate pitching performance from Timothy Pate and a Sam Perez solo homerun, Team Southeast defeated Mid-Atlantic in a nail-biter, winning 3-1, clinching Southeast’s third straight World Championship game appearance.
“This is fantastic, it really is,” said Southeast head coach Rick Pate. “Now I can breathe. We’re going to relax and look to have a blast out there tomorrow night.”
The 2nd inning saw both teams trade runs, as Zach Hurand reached on an error to score a run in the top half of the inning, but shortly after Mid-Atlantic’s Spencer Mochulski responded with a solo-shot to tie the score at 1-1. In the top of the 3rd inning, Perez crushed a home run to left giving Southeast a 2-1 lead.
In the Top of the 5th inning, Tim Pate hit an RBI Single, scoring Blake McCain to stretch West Raleigh’s lead to 3-1.
The Southeast bats weren’t the only story in this one however, as starting pitcher Tim Pate tossed a 5 inning, 1-run gem highlighted by nine strikeouts, while Garrett Moffett came on in relief for the final frame to close out Southeast’s win.
Pate was named Southeast’s Player of the Game following his efforts on the mound.
“The entire game was a battle,” said Timothy Pate. “After the early homerun I gave up, I really had to relax out there on the mound and focus on each hitter.”
“I’m a proud coach of 13 fantastic ballplayers who all have great parents,” said Southeast Manager Rick Pate. “I’m honored to be a member of the great organization that is West Raleigh, who made all of this possible.”
Southeast Manager Rick Pate praised his sons gritty performance, saying, “Timothy has typically been a power pitcher and he had to revamp his game because the kids at this level are much bigger and stronger. He did a phenomenal job at changing speeds tonight.”
“I’m sitting here not only as a proud coach,” said Manager Pate, “but as a proud father, to watch my son out there and perform the way he did tonight. It was just incredible.”
Team USA doesn’t plan on slowing down either as they head into their World Championship matchup with Mexico tonight at 8 p.m. at Cal, Sr.’s Yard.
“Mexico has a fantastic team and a great program,” Rick Pate said. “Last year’s West Raleigh team beat Mexico in the final so I’m sure they’ve got a little motivation to come after us pretty hard. But our guys are going to go out there and compete like they have all week. We’ll have a good time, and we’re going to enjoy this moment.”
This game recap is brought to you by the AT&T Media Center. Be sure to follow your U.S. Champions, Team Southeast, on Twitter at @CRWS_Southeast for all the latest stories, scores, updates, and more.
