SVL 9 and under team wins regional championship

Submitted

Congratulations to the Suwannee Valley League (SVL) Red Lightning 9U Cal Ripken Baseball team for bringing home the 2011 District 6 /Regional Championship from this past weekend. The 9U team traveled to the First Federal Baseball Complex in Live Oak on June 25 and June 26 to take on the Wakulla 9U All-Stars in a best of three series to determine the eventual champion.

The SVL 9U Red Lightning baseball team, on front row left to right: are Parker Ferguson, Garrett Brooker, Ty Adkins, Batboy-Brandon DeMartino, Colton Hastings, Levi Ferguson; on middle row left to right are Branden Wallace, Zach Ford, Wyatt Langford, Jason DeMartino, Wyatt Thornton; and back row left to right are Coach Kirk Brooker, Coach Michael Langford, Coach Jason DeMartino.

The Red Lightning swept the series by taking the first game 17-9 and the second 20-1. Key performers of the series for outstanding pitching go to Wyatt Langford, Colton Hastings, and Jason DeMartino. Langford started Game 1 and got into some trouble early, but was relieved by Hastings in fine effort to shut down Wakulla for 4 ½ innings. DeMartino came in to close the game in the 6th inning by striking out the side. In Game 2, Langford was dialed in and allowed only one hit in a complete game effort. Backing the pitching efforts was outstanding defense performances by Levi Ferguson and Wyatt Thornton as the Red Lightning only committed two errors for both games. Outstanding hitting/ offense performers go to the entire team for keeping the Wakulla All-Star team very busy in the field.
Next up is the Florida State Championship series in Lake City on July 7-10. The SVL Red Lightning would also like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all of our sponsors and those who have donated thus far.