Peninsula Daily News
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — Wilder Baseball opened the 16-18 Babe Ruth Pacific Northwest regional tournament with a 6-2 win over the Brookings Mavericks, the Oregon state champion, at Kiger Stadium.
Wilder, the defending regional champion, was out-hit, five to four, but capitalized on the seven errors Brookings committed.
But the Port Angeles-based elite team wasn’t flawless itself, according to head coach Chad Wagner.
“We played an OK game today, and they obviously made a few mistakes that we were able to take advantage of,” Wagner said.
“We had a few mental errors on our part that need to go away, as we are going to face better teams as the tournament goes on.”
Wilder committed two errors.
Ace Kyle Kelly continued his stellar summer by tossing a complete game with seven strikeouts and no walks and allowing only one earned run.
“He threw 70 percent strikes and was in complete control of the game,” Wagner said of the College of Eastern Utah recruit and former Port Townsend Redskins star.
The Wilder offense was led by a trio of Port Angeles Roughriders.
Kevin Herzog had two of the team’s four hits and scored a pair of runs.
Brian DeFrang added a hit and a run, and Ryan Mudd went 1 for 3 at the plate.
Wilder continues the regional tournament today at 4:30 p.m. against the Idaho state champion team from Latah County.
Wilder concludes National Division play Friday against the Buffaloes, the Wyoming state champs.
The top two teams from the National and American divisions will reach the semifinals on Saturday, and the winners of those two games will face off in the regional championship on Sunday.
The Pacific Northwest Regional champion earns a berth in the Babe Ruth World Series in Covington County, Ala., later this month.