Cal Ripken World Series Championship Game: Southeast vs. Mexico

Cal Ripken World Series. “Author’s Photo”

The Cal Ripken World Series Championship Game is on Saturday between Southeast and Mexico. But on Friday, and the seven days prior, a local Maryland team provided many of the thrills. The local Harford County team had an amazing run to the U.S. Championship of the Cal Ripken World Series. Usually the local teams don’t fare well against the high level of competition of this week-long international baseball competition. A 3-1 run in pool play followed by a victory over the Maryland State team placed them into the domestic final game. The Harford County team is comprised of the Hickory Hornets baseball team that plays out of the Hickory-Fountain Green Recreation Council.

Alas, the Southeast team, based out of West Raleigh, NC, won 7 to 5. Phil Winfield did lead the Harford team with a home run bomb that went over the playground, well past center field. But the Southeast team continued to show their week-long dominance over the U.S. field. The Southeast representative won the U.S. title in 2013, as well, but fell to Japan in the final.

Saturday’s 8pm final game will pit the US. winner against Mexico, who beat defending champion Japan by a score of 10 to 7. The game is free to attend.

The Cal Ripken World Series is the final event of the Babe Ruth League’s Cal Ripken Major/70 Division. Teams play on a field with 70-foot base paths and a 50-foot pitching distance. Ten domestic teams and eight international teams play in the week-long event. This year is the first for Puerto Rico and New Zealand. The Cal Ripken Major/70 Division is different than the well-known Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, as that tournament uses 46-foot pitching distances and 60-foot base paths.