WARSAW – The Baseball Players Association recognized three team champions over the weekend as the BPA World Series concluded at the City-County Athletic Complex.

Champions in 10-U, 11-U and 13-U were decided on the diamond from teams around the Midwest. Skills and Home Run Derby champions were also decided during the week-long event.

In the 10-U tournament, the Indiana Storm used good pitching and defense to win the title, beating the Valparaiso Vikings 7-0 in the final. The Storm also won games over the Indiana Baseball Club (12-2), Portage Tribe (2-1) and the Black Sox (9-4). Valpo made the final by beating Wallen Jackers 8-6.

In the 11-U tournament, the Granger Cubs outslugged the Michiana Scrappers 11-4. The Cubs defeated Morris Baseball Club 9-2, West Diamond Toads 9-3 and the Raiders 10-0 in its quest to the title. The Scrappers escaped the Portage Tribe, 2-1, in its semi-final tussle.

The 13-U tournament final saw the Michigan Elite Wave take down the Fort Wayne Cubs, 9-5, for the title. The Wave beat the Duneland Flyers 4-1, Stars Academy 4-3, Shamrocks 15-2 and Bulldog Baseball 7-4 in bracket play to reach the final. The Cubs slipped past the SHK Landsharks, 2-1, in its semi-final matchup.

In the skills competition, champions were the 10-U Maroon Byers (MI), 11-U Portage Tribe (IN) and 13-U Ohio Valley Viperz (KY). The Home Run Derby champions were Rick Emilian of Downriver Hawks (MI) in 10-U, Dell Henk of Grand Rapids Flames (MI) in 11-U and Miko Rodriguez of Michigan Elite Wave (MI) in 13-U.

The BPA opened last week with Tuesday’s opening ceremonies at Grace College, where Triton High School graduate and current Chicago Cubs minor leaguer Todd Blackford was the guest speaker.