New Milford Pride Is Strong at the Ripken World Series

For a 12-year-old boy who loves America's favorite pastime, it would be an absolute dream to be able to represent your town, your state, and your region, while playing the game that you love. For the New Milford Pride 12U A travel baseball team, that dream has become a reality, as they are currently representing New England in the Cal Ripken World Series. 

The Pride is among eighteen elite teams from around the world, who are going head to head at Cal Ripken Sr. Yard in Aberdeen, MD for global recognition. After a first game loss to the Pacific Southwest team, back-to-back wins over Southwest and Midwest Plains have put the boys in a great spot going into tonight's game against Maryland State. A win tonight (August 3) could see them advance into the Championship Bracket for the United States teams. 

Having played together for four years, The New Milford Pride 12U A are focused, and have their eye on the prize. No strangers to success, they made it to two State Championship Finals, but fell short of making it to the Regional Tournament.

In 2016, The Pride took a different approach, including themselves into tournaments in April, May, and June that provided a higher level of competition. While they didn't win the state title this year, their endurance was up and they were ready. They qualified for the New England Regionals, and won with a walk off single in the bottom of the 6th inning in the championship game.

Here is the 2016 roster led by Coaches Bill Granata, Rob Hibbard, and Casey O'Dell:

• #18 Riley Corgan (1B)
• #12 Cole Dickinson (3B)
• #4 William Granata (OF)
• #10 Owen Hibbard (SS)
• #8 Justin Leclair (1B)
• #7 Michael Muller (C)
• #2 Kai O'Dell (OF)
• #3 Miles Pokrinchak (OF
• #6 Matthew Sheedy (2B)
• #5 Braydon Stellato (P)
• #14 Nicholas Tomasello (P)
• #9 Terrell Williams (P)

All of us here at the radio station would like to congratulate the The New Milford Pride 12U A, and wish them the very best of luck with the remainder of the Cal Ripken World Series. Thanks for representing us so well, and remember that it doesn't count unless you're having fun!