Benthal's bat boosts hot Tropics to World Series W

Southeast Tropics hitter Trey Benthal takes a practice swing as he prepares for a bat on Friday against Puerto Rico in the Babe Ruth World Series at Capaha Field.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The late summer surge by the Southeast Tropics continued Saturday, as they topped Aruba 6-2 in the second game of the Babe Ruth World Series at Capaha Field.

The victory was the eighth straight for the Tropics (28-6-1), and they did it with great pitching from Carson McDaniel and offensive production from Trey Benthal.

“We’re here to win everything,” veteran Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz said following his team’s opening night win over Puerto Rico on Friday.

The Tropics jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Aruba after Benthal connected for a two-run double into center field, which scored his former Portageville High School teammates Mason Adams and Aaron Dunlap, who had reached base via a walk and an error, respectively.

Benthal later drove in Kolten Payne in the third inning with an RBI double into left field to put his team up 3-0.

“Trey is an imposing figure,” Schwartz said earlier this summer. “He’s the biggest guy on the team. He’s the strongest guy on the team.

“The other guys, they fall in line behind him.”

As Benthal was driving in runs, McDaniel kept Aruba off-balance at the plate.

The former Jackson High School pitcher threw six innings and allowed just four hits, one earned run while walking three and striking out six.

McDaniel threw 90 pitches (59 for strikes) before former Portageville High School arm, Thomas Frakes, closed the game in the final inning.

Aruba scored a run in the fourth inning, but the Tropics came back with a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to keep Aruba at bay.

Benthal finished with a pair of hits, four RBI, and a walk to pace the Tropics’ offense while Dunlap (two runs), Payne (two hits, two runs, one RBI), Adams (one run, two walks), Dylan Hayman (two walks), Dalton Forck (one walk), and Beau-Hunter Warren (two hits, one run) also contributed.

Payne connected for a triple while Adams had two stolen bases.

Dunlap, Warren, Payne, and Ross Peters also added stolen bases.

The Tropics, who are the World Series defending champions, will face Pacific Southwest today at 7 p.m. at Capaha Park.

The team from Mountain View, Calif. dropped each of its two games, the first 13-5 to Stamford, Conn., and Saturday fell to Puerto Rico 6-2.