PORT ANGELES — It was like Wilder Baseball was auditioning for the Jekyll and Hyde role in a local play during a doubleheader against the Aberdeen Merchants at Civic Field on Sunday.
In the first game, Wilder managed only four hits in a 1-0 shutout loss. That was timid Dr. Jekyll.
In the second game, Wilder turned aggressive and slaughtered Aberdeen 27-0 after scoring 22 runs in the first inning alone. That was anything-but-timid Mr. Hyde.
Part of that quick turnaround is thanks to Wilder manager Rob Merritt, who wasn’t very timid in his talk to his team between games.
“Our kids were a little timid at the plate in the first game,” Merritt said. “A little bit non-aggressive.
“Our defense played great and our pitching was great. I gave a pep talk between games [about playing aggressive at the plate].”
In the talk, Merritt told his batters that they needed to support their pitchers better.
Mr. Hyde can bat
The Hyde personalities took over in the second game as Wilder scored 22 runs on 19 hits before the third out was recorded in the first inning.
“I have never seen an inning like that,” Merritt said. “Not in this program, not in Little League, or anywhere else.”
In that second game, four Wilder pitchers combined to throw a five-inning mercy-rule one-hitter.
Lefty Justin Straight (1-0) pitched the first two innings, striking out three while walking one.
Strong relief pitching
Michael Konopaski of Port Angeles pitched the third inning, fanning two and walking one while Sequim’s Jake Hudson threw the fourth inning, striking out two and also walking one while giving up the lone hit.
Michael Dean of Forks hurled the fifth inning, striking out the side while walking none.
There was no shortage of good hitters in this contest.
Port Townsend’s Kyle Kelly went 2 for 3 at the plate with a triple, scoring three runs and knocking in three more, while Straight was a perfect 2 for 2 with two doubles, three runs and two RBIs.
Easton Napiontek of Port Angeles also was a monster at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a double, four RBIs and three runs.
Connor Gouge of Port Angeles was 3 for 5 with three runs and an RBI, while Dean went 3 for 4 with a double, three runs and an RBI.
Larson Chapman scored five runs on 1 for 1 batting and four walks. He also had an RBI.
Marcus Konopaski was another perfect batsman, going 3 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs.
Clark Rose went 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a run.
Wilder had strong pitching in the first game with Wesley Giddings (1-2) of Port Angeles giving up the one run while scattering six hits in six innings, striking out three and walking just one.
Rose threw the seventh inning, allowing no hits while fanning one batter.
Wilder, now 6-8, will participate in the 12-team Portland Baseball Club Classic with games in both Milwaukie, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., from Friday through Sunday.
Wilder will play at least four games, three in pool play Friday and Saturday, and at least one in championship-bracket action Sunday.
In pool competition, Wilder opens against Spokane Heat at 6 p.m. on Friday at Alder Creek Middle School in Milwaukie, Ore.
The elite baseball team then plays a doubleheader Saturday at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash.
The first game starts at 12:30 p.m. against the Rip Brewers of Seattle-Tacoma, and the second is at 3 p.m. against Narrows of Gig Harbor.
Sunday’s game will depend on how well Wilder does in pool play.
Going into this weekend’s games, Wilder catcher Tyler Campbell is questionable after injuring a wrist in a freak play against Aberdeen.
An Aberdeen batter swung the bat on a very-late swing and nailed Campbell on the wrist.
“Hopefully, it is just bruised real bad,” Merritt said about the wrist.
“Hopefully, if Tyler can’t play this weekend, he will be ready the next weekend.”
The wrist will be X-rayed this week.
Wilder will not be hurting at the position because the team has two standout catchers on the team.
Marcus Konopaski is the other.
Merritt likes to use both, especially during doubleheader weekends.
Game 1
Aberdeen 1, Wilder 0
Aberdeen 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 1 6 1
Wilder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 4 0
WP- Larson; LP- Giddings (1-2)
Pitching Statistics
Wilder: Giddings 6 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 3 K, 1 BB; Rose 1 IP, 1 K, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB.
Hitting Statistics
Wilder: No one had multiple hits.
Game 2
Wilder 27, Aberdeen 0
Aberdeen 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 1 0
Wilder (22) 0 3 2 x — 27 23 0
WP- Straight (1-0)
Pitching Statistics
Wilder: Straight 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 K, 1 BB; Mi. Konopaski 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K, 1 BB; Hudson 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 K, 1 BB; Dean 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 K, 0 BB.
Hitting Statistics
Wilder: Kelly 2-3, 3B, 3 R, 3 RBIs; Straight 2-2, 2 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 R; Napiontek 3-3, 2B, 4 RBIs, 3 R; Gouge 3-5, 3 R, RBI; Chapman 1-1, 5 R, RBI, 4 BB; Dean 3-4, 2B, RBI, 3 R; Rose 2-2, 2 RBIs, R; Ma. Konopaski 3-3, 3 RBIs, 2 R.
