TROY, N.Y. -- Ryder Froio hit .714 in five games last week to lead a 13-and-under travel team from Pittsfield's Rip City to a tournament championship.

 

Rip City went 3-0 in pool play, beating its opponents by a combined 40-5, and then won the Last Man Standing Tournament's semi-final and final in bracket play to claim the title.

 

"These guys cruised through pool play, then faced some adversity in the single-elimination games as we had to play back-to-back games ona  very hot day on Sunday afternoon," coach Rick Paris said.

 

Lador Lawson, like Froio, had a strong tournament at the plate, going .636 with three doubles.

 

In the championship game, Froio went 6 and a third innings on the mound on short rest, striking out four in a 10-9 win over the [Saratoga Springs] Spa City Stallions.

 

Lawson got the win on the mound with two-thirds of an inning pitched.

 

"Ryder is a workhorse," Paris said. "I tried taking him out after four innings, and he talked me into letting him stay in since he had a very efficient fifth. HE again had a great fifth, but I could tell he was getting tired, as they all were.