Cal Ripken squad nears World Series berth

CAL RIPKEN REGIONAL

Mineral Area 12, Kansas 2

LAMAR, Colo. — The Mineral Area 12-and-under American squad needed only four innings of superb baseball on Monday to surge within one victory of a coveted berth to the Cal Ripken League World Series.

Collin Huitt had an excellent game at the plate with a triple and two singles, as the MACRBA All-stars dominated Liberal, Kan. 12-2 to emerge unbeaten from the winner’s bracket.

Andres Castro yielded three hits and struck out three while pitching the first two innings, and Jake Bridges closed with two hitless frames for Mineral Area, allowing only one batter to reach base.

Logan Winder and Brandt Busenbark each ripped a double among two hits, and Bridges helped his own cause with two singles.

Drew Harlow and Keenan Johnson also collected hits for the Mineral Area All-stars, who will compete for the Midwest Plains Regional title this afternoon against an opponent yet to be determined.