North Carolina FC

Ripken the wide retriever šŸˆ

Ripken the bat dog and wide retriever
Ripken, an American Labrador retriever, sitting in the NC State football end zone.
Ripken can sit on top of fire hydrants, walk backwards up stairs, and do a handstand. | Photo provided by Melissa Oā€™Donnell
A 6-year-old American Labrador retriever has made quite the doggone splash in the local sports industry. Ripken is the official bat dog for the Durham Bulls and the tee retriever for NC State Football.

Raleighites Michael and Melissa Oā€™Donnell welcomed Ripken to their growing family when he was a puppy. Michael, the General Manager of Sit Means Sit Dog Training, started training Ripken at 10 weeks old. What began with fetching small novelty bats in the backyard quickly turned into retrieving Michaelā€™s old college wooden bats.

By 3 years old, Ripken was fetching bats for the Holly Springs Salamanders, kick-starting his sports career in 2019.

After one season with the Salamanders, the Durham Bulls drafted Ripken as their official bat dog. The Bulls made sense for Ripken and his family: from Michael and Melissaā€™s first date to a proposal on the mound, they have a lot of history at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Ripken quickly rose to fame and started landing interviews. Recently, singer and TV personality Kelly Clarkson was so impressed with Ripkenā€™s smooth fetching skills, that she Zoomed them in to The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday, Nov. 10 as part of her #WhatIā€™mLiking segment.

Ripken, a black American Labrador retriever, running with a baseball bat in his mouth.

Ripkenā€™s rookie season as a bat dog was in 2019.

Photo provided by Melissa Oā€™Donnell

After becoming a bat dog pro, Ripken expanded his expertise beyond baseball to football, when he landed a gig with NC Stateā€™s football team in 2021.

During Ripkenā€™s first college football game, Carter-Finley Stadium was packed with distractions like rowdy fans and celebratory fireworks. But Michael knew that Ripken would do what he came to do (though he admittedly was much more nervous than his pooch).

Draped in a red jersey and blinged-out gold chain, Ripken successfully returned his first tee like the good boy he is.

Micheal believes that Ripken adds good energy and helps with morale on the sidelines. ā€œOne of the coaches [Joey Carnes] who we call Ripkenā€™s personal hype man, jumps around the sideline yelling ā€˜Get amped like Ripken, get amped like Ripken!ā€™ to fire his team up,ā€ Michael told RALtoday.

Click on the link below to learn about Ripkenā€™s 8-month-old brother, Rivers, and whatā€™s next for the duo.
THROW RIPKEN A BONE
Synergy Face + Body

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Nov. 18
  • CreativeMornings RDU | Friday, Nov. 18 | 8:30-10 a.m. | NCMA, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh | Free | Listen to Raleigh-based award-winning journalist Leigh Tauss speak at the groupā€™s last event of 2022.
  • Fall Oyster Roast | Friday, Nov. 18 | 5-8 p.m. | Raleigh Wine Shop, 317 S. Bloodworth St., Raleigh | Free | Shuck roasted and raw oysters on the patio and sip on global wines.
  • Hairspray (Touring) | Friday, Nov. 18-Sunday, Nov. 20 | Times vary | DPAC, 123 Vivian St., Durham | $25-$175 | Laugh along with this award-winning musical comedy.
Saturday, Nov. 19
  • Raleigh Christmas Parade | Saturday, Nov. 19 | 9:30 a.m. | Downtown Raleigh | Free | Enjoy the mile-long parade featuring 130 participants including bands, themed floats, super-sized balloons, marchers, and twirlers.
  • Roshambo Holiday Bazaar | Saturday, Nov. 19 | 12-4 p.m. | Transfer Co. Food Hall, 500 E. Davie St., Raleigh | Free | Grab lunch and a festive cocktail to peruse local makers, artists, and vendors.
  • Night of Lights 5K | Saturday, Nov. 19 | 6:30 p.m. | Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Dr., Raleigh | $15-$120 | Race through a holiday light show and donā€™t miss the after party at Trophy Brewing.
Sunday, Nov. 20
  • Omar Apollo - The Prototype Tour | Sunday, Nov. 20 | 6:45 p.m. | The Ritz, 2820 Industrial Dr., Raleigh | $60 | Watch this American singer-songwriter perform songs like ā€œEvergreen.ā€
Tuesday, Nov. 29
  • WCPSS Magnet Elementary Mini Fair | Tuesday, Nov. 29 | 9:30-11 a.m. | Conn Magnet Elementary School, 1220 Brookside Dr., Raleigh | Free | Prospective students + parents are invited to explore Wake County magnet elementary program options, visit with school representatives, and learn about the application process.*
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
Trinity Partners - Raleigh

3 (low-effort) appetizers for your next holiday party
An appetizer spread featuring Hampton Farms products on a living room table.
Recipe times range from ~5-15 minutes. | Photo provided by Hampton Farms
Get ready to impress your guests, RAL. Just in time for the holiday season, weā€™ve rounded up three easy appetizer recipes from Hampton Farms:
SEE MORE PARTY RECIPES

Weather
  • 52Āŗ | Sunny | 0% chance of rain ā˜€ļø
Edu
  • On Wednesday, the Wake County school board unanimously approved a plan to ease overcrowding at some schools and fill underutilized schools for the 2023-2024 school year. Families who are affected will be contacted by the school system. Learn more. (The News & Observer)
Coming Soon
  • The Waiting Room, a cocktail and small plates concept, is opening in Durham this winter. Tucked into the oldest commercial building in downtown at 300 Blackwell St., the bar will feature 100+ selections of liquor and will have a speakeasy vibe. A grand opening is slated for December. šŸ„ƒ
History
Try This
  • Calling all Squishmallow fanatics. The official Squish Tour is visiting Pullen Park this Saturday, Nov. 19. The mobile pop up will feature mascots, games, and chances to win collectible prizes.
Award
Ranked
  • 42Floors, a commercial listing company, ranked Raleigh No. 5 on its list of the Best U.S. Metros to Start a Business, based on cost and opportunity. Some contributing factors were office space affordability and networking opportunities.
Seasonal
  • Weā€™re all about staying warm throughout the colder months, which means weā€™re leveling up our typical outerwear to something a little toastier. Enter: heated jackets. We love this one for its three different heat levels and this slim fit option with 5,000+ five star reviews.*
Shop
  • Our online store Six & Main is now featuring Savvy Oak Candle Company, a business based right here in Raleigh that creates all-natural soy wax candles. Youā€™ll want to smell the unique blend of fragrances. Start shopping locally now. šŸ›ļø
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
CASTO-Stone Creek Village
HEALTH
 

Hey, sleep apnea people: Comfortable sleep is just a click away
A man holds up a sleep apena mask.
This sleep apnea treatment could change the way you experience a nightā€™s sleep. | Photo provided by Inspire
If you or someone you know struggles with CPAP for sleep apnea, now thereā€™s hope. Meet Inspire, an FDA approved sleep apnea treatment that works inside your body with the click of a button. No mask. No hose. Just Sleep.ā„¢

Want to learn more? Attend a free webinar to hear from Inspire-trained doctors about how Inspire works.*
Inspire is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor to see if itā€™s right for you, and review important information at Inspire.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Todayā€™s issue was written by Cat.

Editorā€™s pick: My grandma (Mama) has been craving fried seafood. So for lunch today, Iā€™m taking my grandparents to the NC Seafood Restaurant at the State Farmers Market. I plan on ordering a calabash plate with shrimp, hushpuppies, cole slaw, and home fries.

Missed yesterdayā€™s newsletter? We dove into the Bus Rapid Transit system coming soon to Raleigh.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Charis Painter | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM Cityā€™s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.
ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?
SUBSCRIBE

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright Ā© 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY