Ripken Series begins and Youse's Orioles end with another title

The 12th annual Cal Ripken World Series has begun at the Ripken Academy in Aberdeen. The Series features ten teams from the United States along with squads from Canada, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Mexico and Japan. The U.S teams include the Maryland State champs from Charles County and the Harford County champs from Bel Air, Md. The CRWS, which will be played from Aug. 13-21, is the culminating tournament of the Babe Ruth League's 12 and Under Cal Ripken Division. "Congratulations to the 16 teams participating in the 12th annual tournament," said Cal Ripken Jr. "This event brings together great young players and baseball fans from across the world. We are looking forward to hosting these athletes in Aberdeen for a week of baseball that they will remember for a lifetime." Pool play competition will take place from Aug. 13-17 with up to seven games being played each day starting at noon. The last game of the day will begin at 8 p.m. under the lights in Cal Sr.'s Yard. There will be no games played on Thursday, Aug. 18, which will serve as a rain make-up day if needed. On Friday, Aug. 19 there will be four games of single elimination competition beginning at noon to determine the participants for the International Division Championship Game and U.S. Championship Game. The U.S. Championship, International Championship, and World Championship games for the 2011 tournament will be broadcast on MLB Network on Aug. 20 and 21. Cal and Bill Ripken will be in the broadcast booth with MLB Network throughout the telecasts live from the Ripken Academy. For tournament information, check out their website at CRWS.RipkenBaseball.com. Meanwhile, congrats to the Youse's Orioles amateur team which won another AAABA national championship Saturday in the 20 and under championships at Johnstown, Penn. The Youse's team has won back-to-back championships and has won this event eight times in the last nine years. Managed by Tim Norris, pitcher Brad Markey of Bel Air, Md.'s C. Milton Wright High went 2-0 and was named MVP as the squad took the title. The Orioles completed the week with a 6-0 mark and outscored their opposition 73-15 on the way to clinching the 67th AAABA, which was also the franchise's 28th in the history of the event. This team has featured several current Orioles minor leaguers over the past few years to include LJ Hoes, Oliver Drake, Steve Johnson, Brandon Erbe, Steve Bumbry, Joe Velleggia and last year Glynn Davis, who is currently with the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds. Congrats to the Oriole scout team on another title.