SPOKANE — The Wilder A Baseball Club had to go to 10 innings, but ended up prevailing 5-4 over Almira-Coulee-Hartline 17U on a walkoff in the bottom of the 10th Saturday in the team’s opening game of the American Legion Baseball A Division state tournament.
Wilder A won in unique fashion as the bases got loaded on walks. Then Carston Waddell got hit by a pitch, driving in the game-winning run.
ACH, a team of boys older than Wilder A’s 16U squad, came in to Saturday’s game with a 25-1 record. Wilder A, the champions of the American Legion Area 1 League, is now 15-11 on the season.
Wilder A moved on to play Yakima Pepsi Juniors 15U in the second round in a game after Sunday’s press deadline. Look in Tuesday’s sports section and online at www.peninsuladailynews.com to find a report on that game.
Wilder A will play at either 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. Monday depending on the result of Sunday’s game.
Wilder A only had a couple of hits, from Bubba Hernandez and Lane Wilson, but did have 11 batters get on base on walks.
Coach Jadon Seibel said the Wilder club fell behind 3-0 early, then rallied to tie the game at 4-4.
Seibel said both pitching squads struggled in the game with control and bases on balls.
“Our defense kept us in the game,” Seibel said. “The infield played great. Our outfielders made a couple of great diving catches.”
