By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Howard Township 8-year-old All-Stars finished second at Pepper Martin Park over the weekend in the Cal Ripken Baseball Tournament.
Cal Ripken Baseball put on the tournament.
Howard Township was defeated by the Granger Cubs, 13-5. Howard reached the title game by defeating the Howard Township 7-year-old All-Stars.
In the title game, Keagan Nuemann and Brett Barnum, both of whom doubled, led Howard Township offensively. Dawson Clemens went 3-for-3, while Jacob Hamm was 2-for-3.
Howard Township also defeated Mishawaka (Ind.), Hartford and Chet Wagner to go 4-1 in the tournament.
Alex Harpenau was 3-for-3 with two singles and a triple against Mishawaka. Joey Hess was 3-for-3 with a double, while Jakob Huffman was 2-for-3 with a double. Drew Huffman had a pair of doubles.
Against Hartford, Clemens was 4-for-4 and Hamm 3-for-3. Jakob Huffman and Conner Amberg both finished with two hits.
In the game with Chet Wagner, Hamm was 4-for-4, while Bryce Lake and Nuemann were both 3-for-3. Jered Purucker added two hits.
Lake was 4-for-4 against the Howard Township 7-year-old All-Stars.
Bennett Stuver, Barnum and Hess were all 3-for-4.