By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Reds earned a 5-2 victory in game two of the Brandywine Cal Ripken Jr. Babe Ruth League Major Division World Series Saturday night, sweeping the Yankees to claim the crown.
The Reds scored what proved to be the winning runs in the first inning, piling up four runs before the Yankees had a chance to bat. A single by Cody Udell set up the first run of the game when Taylor Ort singled to drive Udell home. Ort then scored on a passed ball. A walk by Justin Molica and a double over the right fielder by Devon Backus then set up Wayne Marazita's two-RBI single.
Ort struck out the side in the bottom of the first inning and the Reds scored their final run in the top of the second. Mikel Lindzy doubled then an error on a hit by Ort allowed Lindzy to come home.
With Udell pitching in relief of Ort in the second inning, the Yankees managed some offense. A pair of walks and a passed ball allowed Derrick Nichols to score the first run of the game for the Yankees.
Jesse McCombs relieved starter Stephen York for the Yankees in the top of the third inning and struck out two of the three batters he faced. In the bottom of the inning the Yankees scored once again on a passed ball, this time it was Dan Reidenbach crossing home plate.
Reidenbach's run proved to be the end of the scoring for both teams. Udell hit a single in the top of the fourth inning but was thrown out at third base later in the inning. McCombs had a chance to score but was thrown out at the plate.
Ort, who throws in the high 60s (MPH) came on to close the game, only to give up four walks. Eventually, though, he retired the Yankees and clinched the championship for his squad.