Ridge 8U Team Wins Cal Ripken District Championship

Editor's note: The following information was submitted by team mother Heather Olivo.

The Ridge 8U baseball team won the Cal Ripken Tournament District 10 Championship this past week, led by pitching and defense, with a 9-2 victory over Branchburg in Hillsborough.

Outstanding pitching throughout the district tournament play came from Gavin Kreitz, Michael Olivo, Jack Santonastaso, Joseph Latta and Jack Brenner to help lead the team to victory. Great defense and hitting were key, from Alex Kim, Brian Capato, Cameron Mays, Luke Mahala and Jake Fern. Daniel Taylor and Matthew Ricciardelli brought the big bats.

Moving ahead with Northern NJ Championship.

The Ridge team then advanced to the Cal Ripken Northern New Jersey State Championships which began on Friday in Bridgewater.

Friday's game was rained out, and rescheduled this Tuesday against Bayonne, Olivo said. The 8U team defeated Mount Olive on Saturday night, 13-0, and was due to head out onto the field again at 4 p.m. on Sunday, she said.

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

The team members in the featured photo are, front row from left, Jack Brenner, Brian Capato, Joseph Latta, Alex Kim and Jake Fern; second row from left: Jack Santonastaso, Matthew Ricciardelli, Michael Olivo, Luke Mahala, Daniel Taylor and Cameron Mays; Coaches: Scott Kim, John Olivo, Tom Dimitry and Paul Riccirdelli; not pictured: Gavin Kreitz.