SEDRO-WOOLLEY — The Wilder Jr. baseball club erupted for five runs in seventh inning to blow open a tight game with Blaine, going on to win 7-4 to complete a doubleheader sweep in American Legion play.
Wilder Jr. beat Sedro-Woolley 5-0 earlier in the day on Sunday. With the two wins, Wilder Jr. goes to 4-2 on the season (1-1 in the American Legion Area 1 AA League).
In the afternoon win over Blaine, Blaine had a 3-2 lead going into the seventh inning. Two errors, a walk and four clutch Wilder Jr. hits plated five runs.
In that big inning, Michael Grubb had a bases-loaded single for an RBI, Connor Bear hit a two-run double and Trey Baysinger had an RBI single.
Joey Hildebrandt was a big contributor for Wilder Jr. on the mound and at the plate. He pitched the final three innings, giving up two hits, no earned runs and striking out seven while walking three. At the plate, Hildebrandt went 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
Landon Seibel went 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored. Bear had his two-run double and also scored two runs. Kamron Meadows went 1 for 4 with an RBI and Baysinger went 1 for 3 with an RBI, a walk and two stolen bases.
In all, Wilder Jr. pitchers struck out 11 batters, but they also walked 11. Adam Watkins, Meadows and Hildebrandt combined to only allow five hits.
Wilder Jr. next plays at the Wenatchee Apple Valley Tournament beginning Friday.
Wilder Jr. 7, Blaine 4
WJr. 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 — 7 8 1
Blaine 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 — 4 5 5
WP: Hildebrandt
Pitching
Wilder Jr. — Watkins 2IP; 2H, ER, 2K, 2BB; Meadows 2IP, H, 2ER, 2K, 6BB; Hildebrandt 3IP, 2H, 0ER, 7K, 3BB.
Hitting
Wilder Jr. — Hildebrandt 2-4, 2B, R, RBI; Seibel 2-4, R, RBI; Bear 1-3, 2R, 2RBI, SB; Baysinger 1-3, 2SB, RBI, BB; Meadows 1-4, RBI; Grubb 1-4, R; Thomas 0-3, RBI.
Crosscutters split
ANACORTES — The Olympic Crosscutters began their season by splitting a doubleheader in Anacortes on Sunday.
In Game 1, the Cutters built an early 6-1 lead over Anacortes behind the superb pitching of Logan Urvina and solid defense. Elijah Flodstrom made a spectacular diving catch in left field the Crosscutters turned a double play to end the game with a 6-5 win.
The Cutters’ offense was fueled by hits from John Vaara, Dalton Kilmer, Kole Acker and Trenton Indelicato.
Although the Crosscutters dropped the second game to an older Mount Vernon squad, the team kept the score tight. They were down just 4-3 after six innings when Mount Vernon pulled away with four runs in the seventh to win 8-3.
Game 2 highlights for the Cutters included gutsy pitching by starter Tanner Woodley and the relief corps of Indelicato, Elisha DuJue and Colton Reed.
The offense was highlighted by Vaara, Kilmer and Hunter Robinson hits and a clutch two-strike, two-out RBI by Parker Nickerson.
According to Cutters’ coach John Qualls, the most outstanding Cutter performance was turned in by Robinson, who caught all 14 innings of the doubleheader. Robinson demonstrated steady skills framing pitches, counseling pitchers and throwing several opposing runners out attempting steals, Qualls said.
The Cutters (1-1) return to the road this weekend, with three games against Lynden Christian, Lynden and Blaine in Lynden.
