Cal Ripken Baseball is a community based program for 5 year olds through 12 year olds.  Cal Ripken Baseball is played under the Official Baseball Rules, but implements some special rules as necessary for the development and welfare of this young age group.

I just wanted to share this wonderful essay written by Henry Molot, an 8-year old in our League who played on our All Star Team this past summer - this certainly epitomizes the spirit of our young players and their love for this great game of baseball.  This is why our Board of Directors have steadfastly remained since our inception so dedicated in our vision to provide the best program we can for the youth within our communities !!

Great to see such positive things like this pop up from time to time, especially in a world that is full of so many negative overtones - makes us all very proud of what we do ...  Dwight C. Rowland

Essay sent to Manager Michael Lodewick from Henry Molot, a member of his 8- year old All Star Team in 2009 ---  

I've learned lots of things over the course of my baseball season but there is one lesson that really stood out to me and that was to never give up. Never give up goes from making a diving catch in right field to running out a grounder to short:  you never give up.

My team Bethwood Red was a mighty good one if I say so myself. In our first game we battled to beat Southbury White in extra innings to take home our season opener. I won't go through all of our games, only the ones that stood out to me.

The first game I'm going to tell you about is our first play-off game against Newtown Gold. We were down 6-9 in the sixth when we had a three run inning to tie the game at 9! We both scored a run in the sixth to send the game into extra innings. We held Newtown to all zeros in the top of the seventh.  Then when we were up. We had a runner on first and our best hitter coming up, Jack Nolan.  The count was one and one when it happened.  Jack hit the biggest hit I've ever seen for a walk off home run!  Pretty exciting, eh?

O.K., the next game features me a little more.  We were playing Oxford and the game was becoming a defensive battle.  I was playing right field and not expecting much action when a towering fly ball came my way.  I charged toward it, running at full speed, and made a head over heels full out diving catch in foul ground.  The best part was my parents, because they were right in front of me when I made the catch!

Our team finished with a 12 - 1 record and was granted a trip to the championships but suffered a devastating loss to Southbury.  But, I think that our season was a season of dreams or better for any boy.

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Tournament Rosters

5/21/2010