By Ron Rop
Local Sports Journal
The West Michigan Riptide 14U travel baseball team captured the Grand Haven Summer Blast tournament title last weekend.
Riptide finished the tournament with a 5-0 record.
The team faced some stiff competition from Diamonds, Elite and the Outlaws, but was able defeat all three en route to the championship.
Riptide defeated Elite Heat 8-7 after scoring four runs in the final inning then setting Elite down in order in the bottom of the inning. In Game 2, Riptide defeated the Northville Broncos 13-0 and the Northville Mustangs 11-9.
In the fourth game, Coach Craig Overway’s team defeated the Rockford Steelheads 8-6. A five-run surge in the final inning carried Riptide to the victory.
In the final game, Riptide used good defense and limited the West Michigan Outlaws to three hits and earned a 4-0 victory.
Riptide pitchers in the tournament included Austin Sied, Mason Norden, Garrison Mast and Ethan Styck. Top hitters were Mast, Sied and Norden.
Riptide on hot streak
The West Michigan Riptide college team will put its 10-game winning streak on the line Monday night.
Coaches Jeff Lindsey and Bob Cavanaugh will take the Riptide Dirtbags to Belknap Park for a double header against Davenport University.
Riptide’s record is 14-3 after a 7-3 victory over Grand Rapids Elite on Wednesday night.
