By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – A three-run second inning helped lift the Howard Township U11 All-Stars to the Cal Ripken Michigan state championship on Sunday at Pepper Martin Park.
Howard Township jumped out to a 4-0 lead on Benton Harbor, which reached the title game by defeating Howard Township B in the consolation finals Sunday morning.
Benton Harbor scored four times in the bottom of the first to tie the score, however, Howard Township scored three times in the top of the second to take a 7-4 lead.
Benton Harbor's All-Stars were able to cut the lead to 7-5, but could get no closer as Howard Township scored four times in the fifth inning to increase its lead to 11-5.
Benton Harbor got a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to close out the scoring.
Tate Brawley earned a victory in relief for Howard Township.
Howard A reached the finals by knocking off Howard B in the opening round on Friday night and then topping L'Anse Cruse North in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Howard A defeated Benton Harbor to move on to the title game.
Benton Harbor won its opening game against Brandywine before falling to Howard A on Saturday night.
Benton Harbor dropped down into the consolation bracket and defeated Howard B to advance to the title game.
Howard B eliminated Brandywine in the first round of consolation games and then eliminated L'Anse Cruse North from the tournament on Saturday night.
No further information on those games were provided. See Tuesday's Niles Daily Star for more results.
U12 Division
Howard Township entered Sunday undefeated, but Benton Harbor rallied through the consolation bracket to knock off the host team 15-9.
The win forced a second championship game tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Howard Township defeated Clinton Valley in the opening round on Friday night.
Howard then defeated Benton Harbor in the quarterfinals before beating L'Anse Cruse North in the semifinals.
Benton Harbor bounced back in the consolation bracket and defeated Clinton Valley, which eliminated Brandywine from the tournament on Saturday afternoon.
Benton Harbor then sent L'Anse Cruse packing to advance to the finals.