Redbirds, Big Train face off for Ripken League championship for 5th straight year
The Baltimore Redbirds face the Bethesda Big Train for the league championship this weekend, in a scenario familiar to Ripken League fans. It is the fifth consecutive year the two teams will meet for the title.
Baltimore is 3-0 in double elimination play and will face the Bethesda Big Train, who are 2-1 in the championship series. The first game is scheduled for 7:30 on Saturday at Shirley Povich Field. A Redbirds win on Saturday would clinch their second straight title while a loss would extend the series to Sunday for the championship.
Saturday’s game projected Bethesda’s Justin Hepner (San Diego State) against the Redbirds’ Luke Curtis (Pitt). Neither has yet pitched in the postseason, and Hepner posted a 2-2 mark in the regular season with a 4.13 ERA. Curtis was 0-2 with a 4.67 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 27 innings of work.
Tom Flynn has contributed to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. He compiled the photo history, Baseball in Baltimore, in 2008 and has written one novel, Venable Park. Check out Tom’s journal at boxerjournal.com
Update: Tonight’s game was postponed; doubleheader Sunday at Shirley Povich beginning @ 4 PM