KENNEWICK — The North Olympic 10U Cal Ripken All-Star team won a pair of games and made it to the semifinals of the regional tournament this weekend.
North Olympic won its first game 7-5 against Nampa, Idaho, having “to hold on for dear life” at the end, according to coach Rob Merritt. North Olympic was up 6-1 after six innings, but Nampa rallied late to make it close. Noah Kiser was the winning pitcher, giving up one run in four innings of work.
North Olympic next lost to Bozeman, Mont., 11-10 in eight innings. North Olympic had leads of 3-1, 6-3 and 10-8, but Bozeman was able to come from behind to get the win. North Olympic then lost to Castle Rock 7-4.
Needing a win to move on, they won their next game Saturday against host team Kennewick 15-7. That got North Olympic into the tournament semifinals, which they lost 7-1 to Willamette Valley of Oregon on Sunday. Merritt said the score was 3-1 for much of the game, but North Olympic just couldn’t get much offense going.
Willamette Valley went on to win the tournament and will move on to the Cap Ripken 10U World Series. North Olympic came in third.
North Olympic also finished second in the Washington state tournament earlier this month. The team is 18-7-1 on the season and will next play in the Dick Brown Memorial Tournament at Lincoln Park on Aug. 6-7.
