Submitted photo

Members of the Hot Springs Babe Ruth baseball team included, back row, from left: McCoy Rippentrop, Alex Stanley, Grant Heil, Dawson Kleppe, Brayden Vandenberg, Sammy Waldner. Front row: Connor Kramer, Brock Schroeder, Jaydon Koffler, Colin Iverson, York Naze, Zain Spray, Winston Preuss. Not Pictured: Jonah Shortbull.

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HOT SPRINGS – The Hot Springs Babe Ruth team recently a concluded a successful 2021 summer season which saw the teenage team finish with a 8-6-1 record overall and a Chadron League Championship title.

Hot Springs locked up the league championship on Monday night, June 28, when they swept a double-header in Chadron versus both Chadron and Alliance, defeating them by scores of 10-9 and 12-6 respectively.

McCoy Rippentrop was the winning pitcher against Chadron going the distance giving up 8 earned runs with 12 strikeouts. Offensively, Hot Springs was led by Grant Heil, who was 1 for 2 with one walk, 1 stole base, and 2 runs scored. Rippentropp had 3 base on balls, 2 stolen bases, and 2 runs scored and Brock Schroeder was 0 for 1 with 1 base on balls, 1 hit by pitch, and two runs scored.

In the second game against Alliance, Jaydon Koffler was the winning pitcher with the complete game. He gave up 5 earned runs with 7 strikeouts. York Naze led the Hot Springs offensive effort by going 1 for 3 with a base on balls, 1 stole base, 2 RBI’s, and 1 run scored. Jaydon Koffler 2 for 3 with one base on balls, 1 run scored, and 1 RBI. Colin Iverson 1 for 3 with a base on balls and 2 runs scored.

Back on June 21, Hot Springs had also defeated Alliance on their home field by a score of 14-9. Rippentrop was the winning pitcher going the distance giving up 4 earned and 5 unearned runs. He had 20 strikeouts for the game. Rippentrop also was the team’s top guy at the plate going 2 for 3 with a base on balls, 3 runs scored, 2 stolen bases, & 1 RBI.

The team also got solid performances from Colin Iverson (3 for 5, 3 stolen bases, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI) and York Naze (2 for 4 with a base on balls, 1 stolen base, 1 run scored, and 1 RBI).

On June 29, Colin Iverson took the loss in a close 16-13 game in Newcastle, as he gave up seven earned run. Offensively, the team was led by three players, including Dawson Kleppe who was 3 for 4 with one walk, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Colin Iverson was 3 for 4 with one walk, 4 stolen bases, and 2 runs scored. McCoy Rippentrop was 2 for 5, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI.

Hot Springs wrapped up its 2021 season last week on July 1 when they dropped a close one-run ball game versus Belle Fourche at Butler Park, by a score of 11-10.

Jaydon Koffler was the losing pitcher in relief giving up 6 earned runs. Offensively the team was led by Brock Schroeder, who was 1 for 1 with two Base on Balls, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI’s, and 1 stolen base. Colin Iverson was 2 for 3 with a base on balls, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Connor Kramer was 1 for 3 with a Hit by a pitch, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base, and 1 RBI.

Following are some final, season-ending stats for the talented squad:

Pitching – McCoy Rippentrop 9.45 ERA, 63 Strikeouts, 3 Wins & 0 Loses; York Naze 8.60 ERA, 16 Strikeouts, 2 Wins & 0 Loses; Jaydon Koffler 8.55 ERA, 27 Strikeouts, 2 Wins & 2 Loses.

Batting Average – Colin Iverson .654, Dawson Kleppe .568, & Jonah Shortbull .500

Runs Scored – Dawson Kleppe 24, McCoy Rippentrop 23, & Brayden Vandenberg 20

RBI’s – Dawson Kleppe 22, York Naze 13, & Jaydon Koffler 10