Babe Ruth World Series Quarterfinal: Aycorp Fighting Squirrels vs. Altoona

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com

The Aycorp Fighting Squirrels used some great relief pitching and an offensive breakout to take the August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series quarterfinal between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11.

Aycorp's Talan McDaniel prepares to pitch during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Altoona's Gavin Albright pitches during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Brady Swims slides safely into third base during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Wyatt Friley smiles after a hit during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Luke Hester winds to pitch during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Luke Hester pitches during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Luke Hester follows through his motion during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Luke Hester tracks a foul ball during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Altoona coach Brian Bell talks to a runner at third base during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
An Altoona player drives a ball for a hit during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp coach Michael Minner talks to pitcher Luke Hester during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp players celebrate an Owen Osborne double during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Levi McKinnie walks to the plate during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Talan McDaniel winds up during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Brady Swims jogs back after a play at third base during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Talan McDaniel (center) is greeted by teammates between innings during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Brady Smith sprints through third base during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Brady Smith slides safely into home plate during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Altoona's Gavin Bell slides into third base on a triple during an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Altoona's Gavin Bell celebrates a three-RBI triple in the seventh inning of an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Peyton Hodges celebrates the final out of an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Brady Smith fist-pumps toward teammates after an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Bryant Gunn smirks after recording the final out of an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp coach Michael Minner (right) high-fives his team after an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp's Talan McDaniel is selected as his team's MVP, congratulated by teammates after an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp coach Michael Minner (center) talks to his players after an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)
Aycorp breaks down the postgame huddle after an August 14, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and the Altoona, Pennsylvania, at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated Altoona, 12-11. (Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com)