After 2 Wins, Ridge 8U Moves Ahead in Northern NJ Championship

Editor's Note: The following information was provided by team mother Heather Olivo.

The Ridge 8U team already has beaten two opponents in the Cal Ripken Northern New Jersey State Championships, and is scheduled to face a third team, Bayonne, on Tuesday night.

After winning the Cal Ripkin district tournament, the team began the northern state championship last weekend in Bridgewater. The first game against Bayonne, was rained out on Friday and rescheduled for Tuesday.

The 8U team then defeated Mount Olive on Saturday night, 13-0.

On Sunday afternoon, the players followed that shutout with another lucky 13 victory over Bridgewater, 13-4.

The game against Bayonne is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Prince Rodgers Complex, field three, on Prince Rodgers Avenue in Bridgewater. Playoff are expected to be on Wednesday, either at 6 or 8 p.m. depending on the pool for the brackets, the the final championship now set for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Olivo said.

On Saturday, the Ridge Red Devils 8U began the Cal Ripken Northern New Jersey State Tournament by defeating Mt. Olive 13-0 in five innings by mercy rule.

Mike Olivo, Gavin Kreitz and Joseph Latta anchored the team with great pitching, Olivo reported. Alex Kim and Luke Mahala sparked 5-run 4th and 5th innings with great hitting from lead-off hitter Brian Capato, clean-up hitter Jack Brenner, Jake Fern, Matthew Ricciardelli and Daniel Taylor.  Ridge played solid defense, anchored by Ridge's starting catcher, Cameron Mays.

Sunday's win brought the team up to 2-0 in the tournament when the Ridge team defeated Bridgewater 13-4.

Ridge trailed 2-0 early on in the game. With the teams tied 4-4 up in the top of the 6th, Luke Mahala set the Ridge bats on fire by launching a triple that began a 9-run Ridge inning with big hits from Jack Brenner, Jake Fern, Alex Kim, Gavin Kreitz, Michael Olivo, Matthew Ricciardelli, Daniel Taylor.

Joseph Latta shut the door on Bridgewater closing out the game. Great defensive play from Brian Capato and outstanding catching by Cameron Mays helped Ridge head to victory.

The team also will participate in the Cal Ripken Middle Atlantic Regional Tournament which is being hosted this year by Basking Ridge.