Tennessee Auto Rangers finish undefeated
After a perfect 9-0 regular season the Tennessee Auto Rangers had something to prove in the 9-10 Cal Ripken tournament. And prove it they did, as the Rangers rolled through the tournament undefeated to claim the tournament title by slipping past the Covenant Academy Yankees 11-7 in the Championship game Tuesday night.
Grayson Woods pitched the first three innings for the Rangers. Woods struck out the first two batters in the top of the first and then gave up a single to David Lee before fanning the next batter.
The Rangers struck for two runs in the bottom of the first, with hits from Logan Underhill, Woods and Bryce Caten.
Kendall Rutledge led off the top of the second with a double for the Yankees. Two walks and two hit batters tied the game at 2-2. But the Rangers answered in the bottom of the inning with three runs to take a 5-2 lead. With one out, Hunter Bouldin doubled, Dylan Barnes singled to score Bouldin, then Underhill, Woods and Caten followed with hits to give the Rangers back the lead.
In the top of the fourth things got interesting as the Yankees took a 6-5 lead. Chase Hullet and Lee Carden drew back-to-back walks, then two hit batters and a double by Hunter Chilton produced four runs in the inning. The Rangers tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the fourth, with two walks and three stolen bases by Underhill.
In the fifth with two outs Travis Ayers and Lee connected for back-to-back singles to retake the lead at 7-6.
The Rangers broke the game open in the bottom of the inning, when Eric Cantrell drew a walk, Jake Driver singled and Houston Wood was hit by a pitch. Barnes singled with one out and Underhill hit his third double of the game to score Wood and Barnes as the Rangers took a 11-7 lead.
Underhill struck out the first batter in the top of the sixth. But Trevor Vaughn kept the Yankees hopes alive with a single. Devon Rogers singled as the Yankees put runners of first and second, but the next batters went down swinging to secure the perfect season for the Rangers.
For the Rangers, Underhill had three hits, Barnes, Woods and Caten had two hits each. Driver and Bouldin added one hit each. For the Yankees, Lee, Chilton and Rutledge collected three hits each. Ayers, Vaughn and Rogers added one hit each.
The Yankees reached the tournament finals by beating the Cubs 12-11 in the finals of the loser’s bracket and the Rangers defeated the Cubs 9-8 of the winner’s bracket semi-final action.
 LEFT: Above, Rangers pitcher Grayson Woods sets his eye on the target during the first inning of the 9-10 Cal Ripken tournament Tuesday night. Below, Yankees first baseman David Lee avoids the tag by Rangers Robbie McCullough after driving a single to right and then stealing third. RIGHT: Above, Rangers coaches Dewayne Woods, left, Larry Underhill and Bobby Cox give their players a high-five after defeating the Yankees 11-7. Below, Dylan Barnes connects for one of his two hits. Barnes singled in the second and fifth innings and scored twice. (Dale Stubblefield photos) |