CLACKAMAS, Ore. — Wilder Baseball won its fifth game in a row by capturing its opening game in pool play at the Clackamas Nike Diamond Classic at Clackamas High School on Thursday.
Wilder defeated the West Linn, Ore., Lions 10-3 in West Linn’s own backyard to improve to 10-7 on the season.
The elite North Olympic Peninsula Senior Babe Ruth team is on a 10-2 tear after opening the season 0-5.
In opening play of the 12-team tournament, Wilder was behind 3-2 to West Linn before scoring three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good at 5-3.
Five more runs in the fifth inning turned a close game into a blowout.
“We were asleep at the wheel until the bottom of the fourth inning when we woke up,” Wilder coach Rob Merritt said.
But once Wilder got rolling, there was no stopping the team.
Cole Uvila of Port Angeles improved to 3-0 on the year with the complete-game victory.
Uvila struck out four while allowing the three runs on four hits and four walks.
Sequim’s Isaac Yamamoto was 2-for-2 at the plate, scoring three runs with two RBIs and a walk.
Brian Senf of Port Angeles went 1-for-2 with a three-run homer. He also scored two runs.
Cody Sullivan of Port Angeles was 2-for-4 at bat.
West Linn High School is known for producing big left-handed power pitcher Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams, who received the nickname in MLB because of his lack of control.
He had the same wildness and scorching fastballs in high school where he was one of the most scouted players in Oregon during his junior and senior years.
Wilder next plays Albany, Ore., in pool play today at 12:30 p.m.
Clackamas Diamond Classic
Thursday first round
Wilder 10, West Linn, Ore., 3
West Linn 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 — 3 4 1
Wilder 0 2 0 3 5 0 x — 10 8 1
WP- Uvila (3-0)
Pitching Statistics
Wilder: Uvila 7IP, 3R, 4H, 4K, 4BB.
Hitting Statistics
Wilder: Sullivan 2-4; Yamamoto 2-2, 3R, 2RBIs, BB; Senf 1-2, 3-run HR, 2R.