PORT ANGELES — Laurel Lanes rode a big eight-run fifth inning, punctuated by a grand slam by Ezra Townsend to come from behind to beat Swains in the Cal Ripken U12 championship.
Townsend’s grand slam in Thursday’s championship was his fifth home run of the year, said coach Brian Shimko. He also hit a double and walked twice in the game and pitched five innings, striking out seven.
The game was 4-1 for Laurel Lakes going in to the fifth inning. Swains erupted for six runs in the top of the fifth to blow the game open and take a 7-4 lead. Shimko said all of those runs came with two outs and with the aid of six Laurel errors. He said Laurel had played well defensively until that inning.
“It was just a meltdown,” Shimko said.
But, Laurel bounced back from the bad half-inning in the bottom of the fifth, with Townsend providing the big blow in the eight-run inning. The game ended when a long drive by Bryton Amsdill was caught in the outfield by Cooper Elliott.
Colton Romero also had a walk and a double for Laurel and struck out two pitching the final inning. Nathan Basden also had a walk and four hits for Laurel.
Parker Nickerson started the game for Swains striking out seven and walking six in three innings. Payton Cagey struck out two and walked four in three innings.
Amsdill went 3 for 4 for Swains while Nickerson had two hits.
Laurel 12, Swains 7
Swains 0 0 1 0 6 0 — 7
Laurel 2 2 0 0 8 x — 12
WP: LP:
Pitching
Swains — Nickerson 3IP, 7K, 6BB; Laurel Cagey 3IP, 2K, 4BB.
Laurel — Townsend 5IP, 7K, BB; Romero 1I,P 2K, BB.
