ALACHUA, Fla. — Port Angeles 12U opened Commissioner’s Cup play with a 16-2 rout of the Santa Fe All-Stars on Monday behind the mighty bat of Brady Merritt.
Port Angeles continues play at the Cal Ripken Major World Series today at 8 a.m. against the team from Tulare, Calif.
Merritt blasted two three-run home runs, including one in Port Angeles’ nine-run first inning that scored Derek Bowechop and Milo Whitman kick-started the blowout win.
Ethen Floodstrom led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer that tied the game at 1-1.
He singled later in the inning to bring in Nathan Miller and build the lead to 7-1.
Bowechop concluded the onslaught with a sacrifice that scored Brady Nickerson.
Port Angeles added four runs in the second and three in the third to put the mercy rule into effect after four innings.
Merritt’s second homer brought in Floodstrom and Whitman in the third inning and put Port Angeles ahead 16-1 going into the fourth.
Merritt finished 3 for 3 with three runs and six RBIs.
Floodstrom and Miller drove in three runs apiece, and Tanner Lunt, Slater Bradley and Miller each had doubles for Port Angeles.
Whitman and Lunt combined to hold Santa Fe to four hits. Whitman struck out five and Lunt fanned three.
The game against Tulare was supposed to be played Monday afternoon, but was postponed to this morning due to rain.
If Port Angeles beats Tulare in the single-elimination bracket it will move on to play in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game later today at 5:30 p.m.
