After opening up an early lead the OV Rock Rangers proved too much to handle for the Rippers, winning the Red Dog Slo-Pitch League ‘A’ division title Sunday.
The OV Rock Rangers rallied to an early 9-2 lead just three innings into the contest — held at the Esler Sports Complex — before the Rippers managed to show signs of life, battling back in the fifth inning to within three runs.
The Rock Rangers answered right back, however, scoring three more runs in the top of the sixth and finishing the contest with a 13-7 victory.
The Rippers, earlier in the day, had beaten the Rock Rangers, 4-3, throwing out the tying run at home plate to save the contest to advance to the final.
The Rock Rangers, for their part, were busy. They battled BDII and downed the OV Booze Brothers to advance through the back door to the final.
The Rippers’ path to the championship consisted of wins over the Rock Rangers and the Booze Brothers, before falling just short in the final.
In the ‘B’ division, following wins over the Hellraisers and the Fireballs, Qwesqi — for the second time in the day — beat the Fireballs, 14-11, to win the title.
The Fireballs advanced after taking wins over the Throw-Togethers and the Hellraisers.
The two teams were both neck and neck throughout the tournament. Earlier Qwesqi and the Fireballs needed two extra innings (13-12) before Qwesqi were declared the winner.
In the ‘C’ division final it was Lil Bit Loco edging out an 11-5 victory over the N8VS to claim the title.
Lil Bit Loco advanced to the championship game following wins over the Dirty Ores and the N8VS, prior to the N8VS advancing back to the final through the back door.
The tournament began Thursday with round robin games, prior to Saturday’s double-knockout playoff format.