For the second consecutive year the 12U South Orange Maplewood Red Cougars have won the Cal Ripken District 12 Championship.  

Amongst a pool of 13 teams, the largest ever, the Cougars fought through adversity after dropping their first game to Westfield Blue and finished pool play 3-1.  

With the second seed in the playoff round, they won out beating three tough opponents in Cranford, Millburn White and Chatham in the championship game.

This was the first time in their history that a South Orange-Maplewood baseball team has won back-to-back district titles and the first time a team from this age group has done it as well. There have been 4 different champs four this group of kids, starting when they were eight, with SOM as the first team to repeat.

The coaches were extremely proud of how hard the team fought against some very challenging competition.  The win allows them to now advance to the Ripken Northern NJ state tournament where the competition will get even tougher. 

Good luck to the District Champs!

— Doug Sasfai