By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The cooler tempuratures this week have been a relief for baseball players, coaches, fans and officials.
But enjoy it while it lasts because it's back to the 90s next week.
Brandywine's Cal Ripken Baseball League will already begin playoff action next week and Howard Township Baseball League's closing day is next Saturday with round robin tournaments starting Monday.
Cal Ripken Baseball League
Cardinals vs. Devil Rays
After trailing the Cardinals for almost six straight innings, a last effort in the bottom of the sixth was enough to give the Devil Rays a 10-9 win over the Cardinals Thursday evening.
The Cardinals took an early 2-0 lead after the first inning, but the Rays scored four runs in the bottom of the second to give it a 4-2 lead.
Four runs from the Cardinals in the top of the fourth ad three in the fifth put it ahead 9-4.
But the fifth and sixth innings belonged to the Rays as it scored three runs in each to give it the 10-9 win.
Evan Hartman grabbed the win on the mound for the Rays. Hartman had nine strike outs.
Tyler Jones suffered the loss for the Cardinals.
Top hitters for the Cardinals were David Tharp with a triple, Jake Wright with a double and Tyler Jones with two singles.
Darek Mills was the only top hitter for the Rays with a double.
Babe Ruth Baseball
Dodgers vs. Astros
It was a close game, but in the end the Astros were victorious over the Dodgers with a 9-8 win Thursday evening.
Kevin Gross was the winning pitcher for the Astros and Wayne Marazita, Ramone Brown, Kyle Balge, Aaron Brady and Mikey Briggs all took turns pitching for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers were led offensively by Brown, Ralph Sater and Sean Smith who all with two singles each, Josh Hayden had three singles, Gage Ratkay and Collin Leonard both had a single and Marazita doubled.
Top hitters for the Astros were Devon Moore, Brian Evans, Zach Gerber, Gross, Tyler House, Ricky Briand and Tyler Yound all had singles for the Astros and Robert Wagner had a double.