MEEKER | Championship Friday proved to be a banner night for Meeker baseball, as both the 13U and 12U teams claimed league titles in the Colorado River Valley Little League.
Meeker’s 13U team capped off a dominant season with an 11-2 victory over the CRV Red team in the championship game, played Friday evening in Rifle Colorado. The win secured them the 2025 league title and brought their season record to 15-1 overall.
The 13U squad entered the final as the No. 1 seed after defeating the CRV White team 10-1 the previous Saturday. That semifinal win earned them a bye into the championship, where they took full control from the opening pitch.
Case Conway got the start on the mound and delivered a lights-out performance, throwing four complete innings. He allowed only one hit and one earned run while facing 15 batters and throwing 68 pitches—42 of them for strikes.
“They’ve grown a lot,” said Head Coach Torrey Rykhus. “We lost the first game of the season and then went on a run of 14 wins and one loss. The growth really started last season when this team took on the challenge of playing 13U teams as a 12U team. The high level of competition paid off for them in experience and increased skill.”
“This group of kids has played three different sports together for years,” he added. “The cohesion goes a long way. They love each other and they play hard for all their teammates. That’s one of the great parts of growing up in a small town.”
Matteus Rykhus came in to close the game, pitching one inning. He gave up two hits and one earned run, and due to the 10-run mercy rule, the game was officially called after five innings. However, the team played an additional inning to meet the minimum game duration of 1 hour, 40 minutes.
Offensively, Meeker shined as every player reached base at least once. Tyler Follman led the way, going 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Dillon Koenig added two hits, a run, and an RBI of his own.
“They all did good,” said Assistant Coach Billy Ivy. “It was just good to have fun and play baseball—watch the kids work hard, hit the ball, and enjoy themselves. It’s all about having fun.”
The defense held strong as well, allowing just two runs in the entire game.
“There was some confusion at the end,” Ivy said, referencing the extra inning played after the mercy rule, “but we just got back out there and finished playing ball.”
Coach Rykhus said the championship reflects the team’s hard work and resilience.
“This championship is a culmination of the entire group’s hard work and focus throughout the season,” he said. “We had guys that were consistently good the entire season. We had unexpected guys step up in huge moments and propel the team forward when our best guys were having an off day. This is truly a well-rounded team and I’m just happy they get to celebrate this together.”
Reflecting on the season, Rykhus added, “The most rewarding part of coaching this group is just watching them continue to grow. I’ve been lucky enough to be on this journey of growth and development in the world of sports with some of these young men for the past four years, coaching them in multiple sports. They all work hard but know how to make the hard work fun. That’s been our goal this season—work hard and make it fun.”
Earlier that night, Meeker’s 12U team also brought home a championship, winning their final in dramatic fashion, 13-12 in extra innings. Led by Head Coach Obie Deming and assistant Clayton Shonk, the 12U team finished the season 5-7 but came through when it mattered most.
With both teams securing titles, Championship Friday was a night to remember for Meeker’s young ballplayers and the community that supported them all season.
