The Rippers captured their first Red Dog Slo-Pitch League Icebreaker title in three years, knocking off last year’s winners, the Rock Rangers, in the final of the tournament.
The Rippers went unbeaten on day-one during Saturday’s seeding and double-knockout games defeating the Dirty Ores first, then downing the Hellraisers in a tight, one-run contest — holding off their bats in the final inning – to setup a game against the Rock Rangers for a chance to advance straight to Sunday’s final.
There, the Rippers claimed a 7-3 victory before the Rock Rangers battled their way back through the draw to force a rematch in the final.
The Rock Rangers beat the 150 Throwbacks in the quarterfinal and the Hellraisers in the semifinal to advance.
Again, however, the Rippers held it together, thwarting the traditionally strong Rock Rangers offence, to win 11-5 in the championship game.
Three other teams also took part in the double knockout tournament including the Booze Brothers, Lil Bit Tolko and the N8VS.
On the ‘B’ side of the draw the Booze Brothers avenged an early-tournament loss against the Dirty Ores, downing them for first place. The Booze Brothers defeated Lil Bit Tolko, 6-5, and N8VS (default) on the path to the title.