Squirrels advance to World Series tournament play; Tropics win final game of pool play

The McDonald’s Fighting Squirrels dropped their final game of the Senior Babe Ruth World Series Wednesday night, but still qualified for the tournament portion of the World Series.

The Squirrels allowed six runs in the first two innings against the host Alabama Rawdogs and never recovered falling 6-2.

The Charleston-based team opened the game with one run in the top of the first when Justin Moses walked, advanced to third on a single from Charlie Parker and later scored on a wild pitch.

The Squirrels added their only other run in the fifth inning, when Moses again coaxed a walk and scored on a Parker single.

Parker led the Squirrels at the plate, finishing 2 for 3 on the night. Gordon Todd had the Squirrels only other hit in the contest.

Ben Bledsoe was saddled with the loss, allowing six runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked six and struck out one.

Ty Johnson pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one walk and one hit.

The Squirrels, who finished pool play 2-2, will play Cape Cod, Massachusetts Thursday at 4 p.m. in the opening game of the single-elimination tournament. If the Squirrels win, they will play the Rawdogs again at 4 p.m. Friday.

__Tropics 4, Stafford, Va. 2__

The Southeast Tropics didn’t qualify for the single-elimination tournament but ended the World Series on a high note, defeating Stafford, Virginia, 4-2.

After falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first, the Tropics took the lead 2-1 in top of the second. Jeffery Miller and Brandon Palmer both singled to start off the inning. Miller later scored on a wild pitch while Palmer came across on a sacrifice fly from Dawson Menz.

Stafford tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second before the Tropics took the lead for good in the top of the third. Drew Dirnberger smacked a one-out double and scored on a single from Parker Jeffries.

The Southeast Tropics pose for a photo with their team batboys after defeating Stafford, Virginia, Wednesday night at the Senior Babe Ruth World Series in Mobile, Alabama.Facebook/Alabama World Series

That would be all Tropics pitcher Noah Willingham would need, as he didn’t allow a run the rest of the game. Willingham tossed all seven innings, allowing two runs on 10 hits while striking out six.

The Tropics added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, when Jeffries walked and scored on a single from Eli Marvin.

The Tropics were led at the plate by Dirnberger, Marvin and Palmer. All three finished 2 for 3 on the day.

The Tropics finished their first-ever trip to the World Series with a pool play record of 1-3.