Locked in a tie in the bottom of the sixth and final inning of the championship game of the Major Division of the Cal Ripken League with two runners on base, Fifth Street Service Center coach Kris Sauls instructed batter Landon Ormond to do what he always does.
Ormond listened.
The Fifth Street Service Center cleanup hitter stepped into the batter’s box and delivered the game-winning hit that plated Austin Newman and clinched a 6-5 victory over 3B Farms to lockup the Major Division crown on Wednesday.
“I told him not to let the pressure get to him and to do what he’s always done,” Sauls said. “I told him to go up there and take a deep breath and do what he does best.”
That he did, as Ormond’s hit capped off a thrilling game filled with momentum swings.
The 3B Farms team entered the contest needing to win back-to-back games to clinch the title and got off to a hot start as it rallied for three runs. Fifth Street retaliated in the home half of the first with a four-run rally highlighted by Grey Lewis’ monster two-run over-the-fence home run to claim the lead.
However, 3B Farms would not lie down as it scored a run in the third and another in the fifth to go up 5-4, but the pesky Fifth Street team struck for a run in the bottom of the fifth before winning it in the final inning.
Though the loss was a tough one, 3B Farms coach Doug Dixon said he could not be any prouder of his team.
“I’m very proud of this team. We started out losing our first game (of the year) but we got better from Day 1 and that’s all you can ask,” Dixon said. “These kids played hard and gave 110 percent and that’s all you can ask for.”
Carter Boyd went 2-4 and Nate Van Stalduinen was 1-3 with a double for 3B Farms, while Parker Boyd pitched a strong game and went 2-3 at the plate.
Lewis, who went 1-2 with a home run, powered Fifth Street, while Ormond was 2-3. Zach Woolard and Ormond pitched three innings each to get the win.

3B Farms    301    010    —    5
Fifth Street    400    011    —    6

Hitting: 3BF — Carter Boyd 2-4, Dawson Boyd 1-3, Parker Boyd 2-3 (2 2B), Nate Van Staulduinen 1-3 (2B), Mathew Adams 1-3, Chase Smith 1-3, FSSC — Aaron Sauls 1-3, Zach Woolard 1-2, Grey Lewis 1-2 (HR, 2 RBI), Landon Ormond 2-3, Brennan Baldwin 1-2, Brody Alligood 1-2 (2B), Jameson Best 1-2, Clayton Baynes 1-2.