By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Niles' 16-18 year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars won the state championship last weekend by going undefeated through the tournament at Pontiac.
The All-Stars opened up the tourney with a 9-5 victory over Lincoln Park Rails. Casey Hood and Aaron Holy led Niles with two hits and three RBIs.
Chris Carpenter and Ryne Dowling chipped in with doubles, and Brooks Bonner hit a single.
In the semifinals, Niles blew by Clarkston 9-3. Pitcher Kory Bridges allowed three runs on four hits while striking out 10.
Kyle Kidwell had two hits and three RBIs in the victory. Carpenter and Jeff Cooper each had two hits and one RBI. Dowling, Hood and Kyle Isabel each contributed a hit and an RBI for Niles.
Holy and Singleton also contritbuted hits for Niles in the semifinal match.
In the championship game, Niles faced Lincoln Park Rails again because of the double-elimination format. Rails needed to beat Niles twice to win the championship.
But one game was all the All-Stars needed, prevailing 7-5. Bonner had two hits and 2 RBIs in the game, and Kidwell had three hits.
Cooper added two hits. Holy and Carpenter each had a hit and an RBI. Hood and Chris Singleton also added hits.
Niles stayed in the winner's bracket of the tournament. The team now advances to the regional tournament in Owensboro, Kentucky. The All-Stars face the host team, Three Rivers, at 8 p.m. July 29.