PORT ANGELES — It came down to the wire last week at Volunteer Park with Local 155 taking a 3-2 victory over Athletes Choice on a dramatic walk-off double in extra innings in the Olympic Junior Babe Ruth championship game.
The game was tied 2-2 with Local 155 (13-1) batting in the bottom of the eighth when Chris Jaynes doubled on the first pitch off his at-bat, scoring Brandt Perry all the way from first base.
The pitching was strong on both sides as Local 155 pitchers struck out five batters, while Athletes Choice (11-3) pitchers whiffed nine.
Perry got the start for Local 155, logging four strong innings of work, giving up three hits and striking out two with no earned runs. Bryce Deleon came on in relief in the fifth, finishing the game and picking up the win. He surrendered three hits with three strikeouts, no walks and no earned runs.
Kody Williams started for Athletes Choice. The lefty surrendered zero runs on zero hits over five innings, striking out nine. Andre Campbell entered the game in relief, throwing one inning. He was followed by Kaeden Indelicato with two innings of work.
Athletes Choice got on the board first in the second inning when Williams singled to center, moved to second on an error and scored on an Arlo Pullara single.
Local 155 put its first run on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Ian Smithson singled, stole second, moved up to third on a DeLeon single and scored on a Perry ground ball, tying the game at 1-1.
Local 155 had a chance to end it in the bottom of the seventh when Jaron Tolliver was hit by a pitch and went to second on a wild pitch. He was out at third base on a fielder’s choice to end the inning, pushing the game into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Athletes Choice’s Campbell reached first on an error, Williams singled both runners moved up on an infield fly. Campbell subsequently scored on a Ben Clemons sacrifice fly.
With Athletes Choice leading 2-1 going into the bottom of the eighth, Local 155’s No. 2 hitter DeLeon came to the plate and drew a walk. He swiped second base, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a hard-hit Perry ground ball single. Then came Jaynes’ double.
At the plate for Local 155, Smithson, DeLeon and Perry had singles and for Athletes Choice, Williams led the team with two hits with singles from Indelicato, Clemens and Pullara.
Many of these same players are now playing during the summer for either the Wilder Junior Baseball Club or the Wilder A 16U team.
