The Forest Hills All-Stars from Tampa, FL went undefeated through the tournament and will face Mexico on Saturday in the World Championship Game of the 2009 Cal Ripken World Series.

After a rain delay that lasted more than two hours, Upper Montgomery Athletic Club’s (UMAC) Robbie Metz led off the game with a double to right field.  Sam Hirshfield hit a two-out single to left field, but UMAC stranded two runners on base to end the top half of the first.  Forest Hills started the day 5-0, and wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first inning as third baseman Darren Miller hit a two-out two-run homer to left.   UMAC responded in the top of the second as Chris Convers scored on a wild pitch to bring the Maryland team within one. 

The momentum continued for UMAC in the second inning as catcher Sam Hirschfield threw out Forest Hills’ Jesus Vega trying to steal third in the bottom of the inning.  After a scoreless half inning for Forest Hill, UMAC’s Robby Maumary continued his homerun tear as he homered to left field to even the game at two.   

The game remained tied at two until the bottom of the fifth when the 2009 Cal Ripken World Series Batting Champion (.667) Kyle Tucker singled to right center with two-outs to score Jason Heinrich with the go ahead run.  The next batter, Jonathan Diaz, homered to right center to give Forest Hill a 4-2 lead and eventually the U.S. Championship.

Forest Hill and Mexico will meet at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Cal Sr’s Yard for the 2009 title.  The game will broadcast live nationally on MLB Network and MLB.com.  The simulcast will also air locally in Maryland on WBAL Plus.


Tournament Awards - US Division

Batting Champ: Kyle Tucker - Southeast

Most Outstanding Player: Darren Miller - Southeast

All World Series Team:
P - Robbie Metz - Maryland
P - Darren Miller - Southeast
C - Taylor Brown - Pacific NW
1B - Jason Heinrich - Southeast
2B - Alec Cook - Pacific NW
3B - Brody Cook - Maryland
SS - Christian Whidden - Southeast
OF - Kyle Tucker - Southeast
OF - Robbie Maumary - Maryland
OF - Cameron Jack - Pacific NW
Ut - Coby Birch - Ohio Valley

Rawling All Defense Team:
P - Ross Puskarich - Pacific SW
P - Jordan Barrett - Pacific NW
C - Sam Hirschfield - Maryland
1B - Matt Chanin - Maryland
2B - Jacob Pavletich - Pacific SW
3B - Chris Marin - Mid-Atlantic
SS - Robert Stevens - Ohio Valley
OF - Dane Stapley - Pacific NW
OF - Matt Rosace - Mid-Atlantic
OF - Steven Leone - New England
Ut - Kyle Zentkovich - Harford Co.

Sportsmanship:
American: CJ Cunningham - New England
National: Kyle Cala - Mid-Atlantic


Tournament Awards - International Division

Batting Champ: Jee Ho Suh - Rep. of Korea

Most Outstanding Player: Eduardo Gonzalez - Mexico

All World Series Team:
P - Koki Kugimiya - Japan
P - Si Chan Choi - Rep. of Korea
C - Anthony Dominguez - Dominican Rep.
1B - Jesus Gonzalez - Mexico
2B - Jesus Perez - Mexico
3B - Akira Oura - Japan
SS - Sergio Alcantara - Dominican Rep.
OF - Atsushi Takahashi - Japan
OF - Jee Ho Suh - Rep. of Korea
OF - Christopher Luciano - Dominican Rep.
Ut - Tomohiro Okuda - Japan

Rawlings All Defense Team:
P - Julio Urias - Mexico
P - Yuma Kondo - Japan
C - Luis Guzman - Mexico
1B - Bryan Soto - Dominican Rep.
2B - Edwar Medina - Dominican Rep.
3B - Hector Chapa - Mexico
SS - Won Bin Park - Rep. of Korea
OF - Oliver Ortiz - Domican Rep.
OF - Hyun Shik Won - Rep of Korea
OF - Irving Wilson - Mexico
Ut - Trevor Andrews - Canada

Sportsmanship: Benjamin Keeping - Australia