By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Niles Babe Ruth 13-year-old All-Stars captured the Michigan state championship over the weekend in Grosse Pointe and will now head to the Ohio Valley Regional Tournament in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc. July 27-Aug. 2.
Niles captured the state championship with an 8-1 victory over Grosse Pointe on Sunday.
Niles lost the first game to Grosse Pointe, 6-4 on Saturday, but rallied to win a pair of games on Sunday to earn the trip to the regional tournament.
In the first game Niles won 7-4 behind the pitching of Kevin Gross and the hitting of Dustin Bell, Mickel Lindzy, Gross, Derek Nichols and Tyler House.
In the championship game against Grosse Pointe, Niles got a strong pitching performance from Ricky Briand, who went the distance.
Top hitters included Gross, Nichols and House.
The Babe Ruth Ohio Valley Regional Tournament will begin with opening ceremonies on July 28.
Niles will actually play its first game on July 29 at 6 p.m. when it takes on the winner of the Indiana-Kentucky contest. The tournament concludes on Aug. 2.
The Niles All-Stars consist of Zach Gerber, Aaron Davis, Brian Evans, Briand, Steve Solkey, Wayne Marazita, Lindzy, Gross, Nichols, House, Zach Edquist, Bell and David Sokolowski. The team is coached by Brian House, Bob Bell and Roger Solkey.