Eight players from Ridgefield helped the Fairfield County Captains 13U baseball team finish third in its age division at the Cooperstown Baseball World tournament (July 14-19) in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Competing against both international and domestic opponents, the Fairfield County Captains went 4-1 in pool play and then reached the playoff semifinals, losing to the eventual runner-up team from the Dominican Republic.
Following that setback, the Captains defeated a team from Oneonta, N.Y., in extra innings to secure a top-three finish.
Leading the way on the mound for the Captains was Ridgefielder Hunter Jewell. After pitching a no-hitter during pool play against a team from Wawautosa, Wis., Jewell allowed only a contested infield hit in a playoff victory over a team from Milan, Mich.
Offensively, the Captains were led by Ridgefielders Danny Weiss (.400 batting average, seven RBIs), Aiden Stern (.300 batting average, nine runs scored), and Justin Heinsohn (.333 batting average).
Stern also pitched for the Captains and had a win and a save, while Heinsohn contributed several highlight-reel defensive plays at first base.
Fellow Ridgefielders Tyler Brown (.308, for RBIs), Grady Gernert (team-high four stolen bases), Chris D’Orso (.273 batting average, including a triple against Milan), and Myles Gythfeldt (solid defensively at second base and shortstop) also helped the Captains.