After a fitting conclusion to an exciting season, the Ronan Mustangs can ride off into the sunset as champions.

On Sunday, the wet playing conditions could not dampen the resolve of the Mustangs or their foes, the Plains Royals, as the two juggernauts faced off in a heated battle for the Babe Ruth Championship in St. Ignatius. The clash of titans lived up to the hype, as the tournament’s top two teams needed 11 innings to decide a winner.

After a fitting conclusion to an exciting season, the Ronan Mustangs can ride off into the sunset as champions.

On Sunday, the wet playing conditions could not dampen the resolve of the Mustangs or their foes, the Plains Royals, as the two juggernauts faced off in a heated battle for the Babe Ruth Championship in St. Ignatius. The clash of titans lived up to the hype, as the tournament’s top two teams needed 11 innings to decide a winner.

In the end, the underdog Mustangs unseated the favored Royals, 12-11, when Justin Krahn drove home the winning run in the bottom of the eleventh.Ronan jumped to an early lead in the contest, but Plains answered by clawing its way back and keeping the game close the rest of the way.

With the score tied after seven innings, the title “came down to pitching late in the game” according to Mustangs coach Dave Marmon.

The Mustang pitching staff did their part by keeping the score deadlocked in the extra frames, consistently putting the team in position to take home the trophy in the bottom half of each inning. Then in the eleventh, Chance Herreid reached base to set the table for Krahn. One heroic base hit later, and the Mustangs were newly-crowned champions.Marmon proudly discussed his players’ accomplishment, saying that the victory “was a true team effort. Everyone played well, and we didn’t make any mistakes down the stretch.”

Though the season has come to an end, select players from teams throughout the league will have the upcoming All-Star tournament to look forward to.