Champions. Two no-hitters. The Tournament MVP. The Great Teammate award. Eight All-Tournament Team Players. Runner-up. It was a strong tournament for the Grove Ridgerunners. The Ridgerunners Varsity and Junior Varsity competed in the 20th Annual Mickey Mantle Tournament Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 4 to 6. Games were played at Mickey Mantle Field in Commerce and Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin. Each team played three games with the Varsity Ridgerunners playing in the big school Triple Crown division and the JV playing in the smaller Miners division. The Varsity Ridgerunners went 3-0 and won the tournament while the JV lost to East Newton (Missouri) in the championship game. Top honors Ridgerunner sophomore Chase Coughran was named tournament MVP for his division after going 5-8 with 3 runs scored, 2 runs batted in, and 1 walk. Two of the Coughran’s made were hard hit balls that nearly became hits. The other coaches in the tournament took notice of his consistent, hard contact and knack for getting on base and bestowed upon him the honor of top player. Two awards given out during the ceremony were based on character traits, rather than athletic ability. Ridgerunner senior Case Marsh was honored with the Courage Award of the tournament, while McDonald County’s Blaine Lemm received the Greatest Teamamate Award. Both awards are given to players who replicate a quality teammate. Danny Mantle, Mickey Mantle’s son, was on hand to present Marsh with his award. Mickey Mantle always wanted to be remembered as the greatest teammate a player ever had and not for his Triple Crown, three MVP awards, seven World Championships, and 16 All Star selections. In fact, on the statue of Mantle that sits outside Mickey Mantle Field, the inscription “A Great Teammate” is written. All-tournament team Eight Ridgerunners were named to the All-Tournament Team. Coaches aren’t allowed to vote for their own players, but only players from other teams so these players were selected by coaches who took note of their performance during the tournament. The Junior Varsity Ridgerunners named to the All Tournament Team were sophomores Hank Hacker, Gunner Jensen, Cooper Smith, and Wyatt Wall. The four Varsity Ridgerunners named to the All Tournament Team were senior Jack Gentry, senior Chat Hayes, sophomore Chase Coughran, and sophomore Lane Rutherford. Each year, the tournament features a special guest. Guests range from Hall of Famers to former teammates of Mickey Mantle. This year’s guest was Jim Gentile who finished third behind Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in the 1961 MVP voting. Gentile hit 46 home runs that year finishing 15 behind the magical 61 of Roger Maris. Gentile spoke at the banquet telling stories about Mickey Mantle and his own career. Also present was David Mantle and family, son of Mickey. The three wins for the varsity Ridgerunners ran their winning streak to seven in a row. The Ridgerunners will travel to Oologah on Monday and will host Oologah on Tuesday. Oologah is 11-9 on the season and 4-4 in district play.