Tori Simkovic – Reporter
WPBF Channel 25 Article
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Nine-year-old baseball players from Palm Beach Gardens are now heading to the Cal Ripken World Series.
“I’ve been playing since I was four, and I love playing because I get to hang out with my friends and have the best time ever,” said Reilley Moore.
The team has only been playing together since May. On Monday, they faced a team from central Florida in the state championship.
“My heart was beating,” said Charlie Bello. “We had no outs with the bases loaded. It was a close game but we pulled it out in the end.”
Player Joshua Collado said the other team started to come back in the sixth inning.
“In my mind, I thought we can’t lose and the kid hits to me and we make a double play to make it two outs,” Collado said.
It was Riley Adams, the one girl on the team, that made the game-winning play.
“It was a pop fly hit to me and then I caught it and I was just really happy,” Adams said.
The kids threw their gloves in the air to celebrate. A few said they began to cry with joy.
Now, they’re off to the Cal Ripken World Series. The series starts on August 6, so they will take a few days off to rest and relax before they start practicing again.
“I’m extremely nervous,” said player Luke Taplett.
But Taplett thinks they’ll pull off the win.
“I have a feeling it’s going to be just like states,” said player Kaden Faniel.