It was always something sports related." Ripken, named after baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr., was a local celebrity of sorts for fans of animals and sports. He started his career in 2019 when he ...

Ripken joined the rest of the state’s mascots at the game. “It was an incredibly humbling experience and representative of exactly how much Ripken meant to the people of his home state,” the ...

Ripken the bat dog, a black labrador retriever who fetched the hearts of sports fans across North Carolina, died on New Year’s Day. The O’Donnell family, owners of Ripken, announced the ...

The family that trained Ripken The Bat Dog — best known for fetching bats and football kicking tees during sporting events in North Carolina — says the black Labrador has died. In a Facebook ...

Mermaids, pirates and Dolly Parton helped these family fun attractions make the coveted USA TODAY lists. See where they each ...

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- If you went to a Durham Bulls baseball game or NC State football game over the past few years you probably got the chance to see the one and only, Ripken The Bat Dog.

Ripken passed away on Jan. 1 after complications from a serious, undiagnosed medical condition. Ripken began serving several athletic teams in North Carolina at the age of three, according to a ...

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — The family that trained Ripken The Bat Dog — best known for fetching bats and football kicking tees during sporting events in North Carolina — says the black Labrador has ...

Experience the magic of Pigeon Forge on a family trip. Get expert tips and insights to plan a memorable vacation in the Smoky ...

From magical theme parks like Anakeesta in Gatlinburg to scenic drives and hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Smokies create vacation memories worth savoring – and quite ...