OCALA, Fla. — Wilder Baseball Club took advantage of what tournament host Ocala, Fla., provided to advance to the quarterfinals of the Babe Ruth 16-18 World Series after a 12-2 win in five innings Thursday at Rotary Sportsplex of Marion County.
The Peninsula-based squad exploded for a nine-run second inning highlighted by Bryant LaBoy’s three-run home run from the bottom of the batting order to take full control of Thursday’s contest.
Rylan Politika and Ezra Townsend were each plunked by pitches to open the bottom of the second, while Ethan Staples followed up with a single to center to load the bases.
Sequim’s Devyn Dearinger came through with a sacrifice fly for Wilder’s first run, and LaBoy promptly powered up with a three-run shot to center to put Wilder up 4-0.
Alex Angevine then reached base via an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home to score on an error by the Ocala catcher.
Josiah Gooding and Colten Romero then drew walks to chase Ocala starter N. Cordes.
Brayden White then earned a free pass to load up the bases and Jordan Shumway came through with a shot to center field that scored all three base runners for an 8-0 Wilder advantage.
With Wilder batting around the order, Politika came to bat for the second time in the second and doubled home Shumway for an insurmountable 9-0 lead.
Sequim’s Lincoln Bear added an RBI single in the third, and Shumway’s two-run home run to left field put Wilder up 12-0.
Wilder starter Bryce DeLeon was untouched with two strikeouts in his two innings on the hill, with LaBoy coming on in relief and tossing two clean innings before allowing a pair of runs in the fifth and final inning.
Wilder faced Hanford, Calif., late Thursday with a semifinal spot on the line.
Wilder Sr 12, Ocala 2
Ocala 0 0 0 0 2 — 2 3 4
Wilder 0 9 1 2 x — 12 6 0
WP: Riley; LP: Hunter Conn-Beck
Pitching
Wilder — DeLeon 2 IP, 2 K; LaBoy 3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K.
Hitting
Wilder — Shumway 2-for-3, 2 R, 4 RBI; Politika 1-for-1, R, 2B, RBI; LaBoy 1-for-1, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI; Bear 1-for-1 RBI; Dearinger 0-for-2, SF, RBI.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladailynews.com.
