ALACHUA, Fla. — Port Angeles 12U rebounded nicely from being shut out a day earlier to beat Sylvan Hills, Ark., 12-8 at the Cal Ripken Major World Series on Thursday.
After sleep-walking through an 11-0 loss in their tournament opener Wednesday following a long day of travel Tuesday, the Port Angeles players were more rested for Thursday’s game.
Their bats were particularly rejuvenated, as Port Angeles opened the game with six runs in the top of the first inning.
“We got off to a big start,” Port Angeles coach Rob Merritt said.
The six-run first was especially big considering the competition Port Angeles was up against.
“That was a good team we played. They had four kids 6 feet tall and above,” Merritt said of Sylvan Hills, adding that Port Angeles doesn’t have any 6-footers.
Sylvan Hills cut the lead to 7-4 before Port Angeles’ bats went on another tear, plating five straight runs to build a 12-4 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth and final inning.
The Arkansas team scored four runs in the final frame before Port Angeles quashed the rally.
Ethan Floodstrom and Milo Whitman each homered for Port Angeles and Nathan Miller had a bases-clearing three-run triple.
Brody Merritt and Lucas Jarnagin also drove in runs.
Merritt pitched 5 2/3 innings for the Pacific Northwest regional champs, and Slater Bradley came in and took care of the final out.
Port Angeles, which improves to 1-1 in the tournament’s National Division, returns to action Friday at 2:30 p.m. against Gilcrest, Fla.
