WILDER JUNIOR: Wilder Jr. scores 20 runs in victory, wins league championship

PORT ANGELES — Wilder Junior went wild to win its first-ever American Legion NW Area 2 AA championship, blowing up for 20 runs in a 20-1 win over Ridge.

Wilder Junior had to bounce back from a first-game 9-4 loss in Monday’s doubleheader. That loss meant Wilder Junior had to win the nightcap in order to win the league championship as second-place Lower Columbia had swept a doubleheader to move one-half game behind Wilder.

The juniors quickly left little doubt that they would win the league title, pounding the ball deep time and again and scoring 10 runs in the third inning to take a commanding 13-0 lead. The game was called after five innings.

“I’m proud of them,” said coach Zac Moore. “They battled back and turned it around and played really good baseball.”

“It’s pretty cool, it’s the first time we’ve won the AA title. It’s pretty awesome,” said Wilder Junior slugger Lucas Jarnigan.

Jarnigan and teammate Timmy Adams have been a big part of Wilder Junior’s success in the middle of the lineup, both of them creating a ton of pop on offense. Wilder Junior scored 124 runs in 10 league games, by far leading the NW Area 2 AA League in runs scored.

Jarnigan credits “going up there with a plan and shutting everyone else out. It’s just me and the pitcher.”

Wilder Junior started the season a bit slow, getting off to a 1-4 start. Since then, they have gone 14-7, including 8-2 in league. The juniors are joining Wilder Senior at the state tournament. While Wilder Senior is off to the AAA tournament in Centralia, the juniors will be going to the AA tournament in Spokane beginning Saturday as the No. 1 seed from NW Area 2.

“It’s going to be fun,” said Adams.

Onslaught

Wilder Junior had 17 hits in the onslaught and six extra-base hits. Lucas Jarnigan had two doubles and went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Timmy Adams went 2 for 3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.

Tanner Lunt was 2 for 4 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs. Jacob Felton was 2 for 2 with a double and two RBIs and Seth Woods had a double and a run scored. Kamron Meadows had a hit, two runs scored and two RBIs, while Michael Grubb had a hit, two runs scored and three RBIs. Adam Watkins had a pair of hits, two runs scored an an RBI and Wyatt Hall had two hits, two runs scored, a walk and four RBIs.

On the mound, Tate Gahimer started and picked up the win, not allowing Ridge any chances of trying to get back in the game. He gave up three hits and one earned run with a strikeout and a walk. Mason Nickovich and Adam Watkins mopped up, combining for two innings, one hit, two strikeouts and two walks.

In the first game. Ridge got up 8-0 and Wilder Junior attempted to come back with two runs in the five and two in the seventh, but it was too big of a hole to overcome.

Jarnigan and Adams again did much of the damage. Jarnigan was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, while Adams was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Gahimer was 2 for 3.

Wilder Jr. 20, Ridge 1

WJr. 0 3 (10) 2 5 x x — 20 17 2

Ridge 0 0 1 0 0 x x — 1 4 3

WP: Gahimer LP: Josh Ptoudy

Pitching

Wilder Jr. — Gahimer 3IP, 3H, ER, K, BB; Nickovich 1IP, K, 2BB; Watkins 1IP, H, K.

Ridge — Ptoudy 2.2IP, 9H 4ER, K; Tourdalliett 0.1IP, 3H, 2ER, K, BB; Nap-A-Ti 1IP, 4H, 4ER, BB; Crider 0.0IP, H, 2ER, BB; Scroggins 1IP, K, BB.

Hitting

Wilder Jr. — Jarnigan 2-4, 2 2B, 2R, 3RBI; Felton 2-2, 2B, 2RBI; Grubb 1-3, 2R, 3RBI; Meadows 1-2, 2R, 2RBI; Adams 2-3, 2B, 2R, RBI, BB; Watkins 2-4 2R, RBI; Lunt 2-4, 2R, 2RBI; Hall 2-4, 2R, 4RBI.

Ridge — Tourdaliett 2-3, R.

Ridge 9, Wilder Jr. 4

Ridge 0 0 4 2 2 1 0 — 9 9 3

WJr. 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 — 4 8 2

Pitching

Ridge — Flynn 7IP, 8H 3ER, 7K, BB.

WJr. — Meadows 2.1IP, 2H, 2ER, 3K, 5BB; Ness 1.1IP, 2H, 2ER, 2K, 2BB; Scofeld 3.1IP, 5H, 3ER, 5K.

Hitting

Ridge — Flynn 2-3, HR, 3B, 3R, 2RBI; Brewer 1-3, R, RBI, BB; Bussey 1-4, R, 2RBI.

Wilder Jr. — Adams 2-4, 3B, 3RBI; Adams 2-4, 2R, RBI; Lunt 1-4 2R; Gahimer 2-3; Jarnigan 2-4, 2RBI, 3RBI.