PORT ANGELES — Wilder Junior took advantage of seven Wilder Senior errors in a 3-2 win at the Senior Babe Ruth state tournament at Civic Field Sunday.
The win knocked the Senior team out of the running for a spot at the Senior Babe Ruth World Series which goes to the winner of the state tournament, and also prevented them from the consolation prize: a trip to the Senior Babe Ruth regional tournament.
Nigel Christian came up big on the mound and at the plate for Wilder Junior.
The soon-to-be junior at Sequim High School pitched four solid innings in relief, allowing one run on one hit, two walks and a hit batter.
Christian also led the way at the plate, coming through with two crucial two-out hits to power Wilder Junior.
Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, Christian belted a towering RBI double to the base of the 355 feet sign, and later coming through with a sharply-hit RBI single up the middle in the sixth inning to make it 3-1 Wilder Junior.
Wilder Senior pulled within a run in the top of the sixth inning.
Nick Johnston drew a walk and was replaced on the base paths by James Grubb.
Grubb stole second base after an overthrow from catcher Ian Dennis, moved to third on a ground out by Ryan Mudd and later scored on a ground out by Dusty Bates.
Wilder Senior was able to get the leadoff batter aboard after Larsson Chapman was hit by a pitch, but couldn’t muster a rally with continued postseason play on the line.
Wilder Senior stranded 11 base runners in the game.
Wilder Junior’s season came to a close with the victory.
They finished the state tournament with a 1-3 record.
Wilder Junior 3, Wilder Senior 2
Senior 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 — 2 5 7
Junior 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 — 3 8 3
WP- Christian; LP- Paynter
Pitching Statistics
Senior: Paynter 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 K.
Junior: Morris 3 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 K, BB, HBP; Christian 4 IP, H, R, 3 K, 2 BB, HBP.
Hitting Statistics
Senior: Gochnour 1-4, RBI; Konopaski 1-2, R.
Junior: Christian 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Morris 2-3, R; Dennis 1-3, RBI.
