MECHANIC FALLS – The Town of Paris Department of Parks & Recreation is proud to announce that Paris’ Cal Ripken major league team, the South Paris Reds, recently captured the title of Andy Valley Cal Ripken League Champions.

The team, one of 12 sponsored by the Paris Recreation Department this summer, swept Mechanic Falls in a best-of-three series. This is the first time in 10 years that the Reds have been able to call themselves league champions, though the Reds have been Western Division Champions a number of times.

Comprised of twelve 10, 11, and 12-year olds from Paris, the Reds had a competitive regular season, finishing with an 11-3 record in league play and 22-5 overall. The Reds competed in the Western Division playoffs, beating the Greenwood Tigers 8-2, the previously unbeaten Bethel Red Sox 3-1, and the strong-finishing Norway Braves 6-3.

In doing so, the Reds went undefeated in the double-elimination division playoff, advancing to the league championships to face the always-competitive Mechanic Falls Red Sox. Game 1 was held at Paris’ Dennis Rugg Complex on Oxford Stree, and featured the bats of Paris standouts winning pitcher Derek Morin (4-for-4, with 2 doubles and 4 RBIs), Jordan Croteau (3-for-4 with a double and 3 RBIs), Brandon Campbell (3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBIs), Ben Bowie and Troy Morey (each on base twice and scored 2 runs), and other solid contributors. Morin was the winning pitcher. Derek McCormick scored the run to give the Reds the lead for good in a 13-6 triumph. For Mechanic Falls, Shane Waters hit a towering solo home run.

The Reds traveled to Mechanic Falls for the second game, where a 3-2 win sealed the deal. Highlights included a complete game by winning pitcher Brandon Campbell, who allowed only three hits and struck out 10. Jordan Croteau had two hits and scored a run, while Ben Bowie and Nick Bowie each had a hit and run scored in the decisive fifth inning. Dexter Turner and Dylan Mills led the error-free defense. Waters again hit a fourth inning solo blast for McFalls.

After the game, the league awarded the Reds with a large trophy and each player with individual championship trophies. Long-time Reds Coach Joe Trybus thanked the players and their parents for being such dedicated members of the team. Trybus also thanked his assistant coaches, Chris Morin and Bruce Croteau, and a myriad of other parent volunteers, including Monica LaVerdiere, Sonja Abbott and all those working the snack shack. In addition, he thanked umpires Andy Wickson, Tom Coore, Nate Bowie, Les Morey, Matthew Phinney, Tyler Cummings and Darryl Rugg. Trybus also thanked the Town of Paris Recreation Department for its support especially first-year director, Kelsey Jewell, for her outstanding efforts.

As a special tribute to the Reds’ relentless supporters and ice cream providers, the championship trophy is on display locally at The Handy Store, Routes 117 and 118, South Paris. This fall, the trophy will be moved to the Town Office for permanent display.