Fighting Squirrels secure top overall seed in dominant victory over Netherlands

Aycorp teammates meet Brady Swims after he hit a homer during a Tuesday, August 13, 2024 Babe Ruth World Series game between the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels and Holland Henson of the Netherlands at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Aycorp defeated the Netherlands, 12-2 in five innings.

Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com

In need of a win, and a solid defensive night, the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels did everything asked of them to clinch the top overall seed in the Babe Ruth World Series playoffs in a 12-2 win over the Netherlands.

With both Pool B and Pool C winners finishing undefeated, all the Squirrels needed was a win and to allow less than five runs while doing such, and Aycorp lived up to the hype.

Against the visitors in Holland Henson, the Squirrels accomplished what’s eluded them this tournament and strung together a masterful offensive night that brought across runs in all but one inning.

Led off by a four-inning first, now up to 18 across the four games this tournament in the first inning alone, Aycorp added five in the third to amount an avalanche that the humble Dutch couldn’t recover from.

“We're excited about the way we've played baseball so far,” coach Michael Minner said. “We come out in the first inning again, we get the first two guys on, we drop down a perfect bunt and load the bases.”

Brady Swims had a big say in that, blasting the second grand slam in as many games to unload the bases and put the Squirrels in front early once more.

“Swims gets us on the board with a grand slam,” Minner recalled. “We're doing some things really well. Our guys are bought in right now, and I think we're playing really good baseball.”

The recent New Madrid County Central graduate isn’t unfamiliar to the stage, as he did the same thing just four nights prior in Saturday’s 6-0 victory over Australia.

Upgrading from a three-run homer before to a four-run blast on Tuesday, his powerful .324 average has been paramount in helping the Squirrels to this perfect round in pool play.

Joined by some all-star performances from his fellow batters at the top of the lineup, the Charleston order has become notorious for getting on a pitcher quickly, and it’s resulted in some big wins here late.

It’s been said time and time again: Just one year ago, the Squirrels were 0-4.

Now, they’re 4-0, and they’re heading to the playoffs because of their newfound juice, led loudly by some blistering bats and a killer rotation.

“There are some really good teams, so we're fortunate to sneak out with the one seed,” Minner said.

“But that's big for us in the fact that we get to play at 7:30 p.m. [Wednesday] night, hopefully in front of a packed house here as the playoffs start tomorrow.”

Leading the charge on the mound, Lawson Graff of the nearby Scott City Rams made the start and put together a strong two opening innings on the mound, limiting the Netherlands offense early.

Grabbing the win, Graff pitched the first and second innings, going hitless with three walks surrendered but a pair of strikeouts as Holland Henson went kaput in the first two.

After those first two, with the Squirrels quickly mounting a sizeable lead on the Netherlands, the only winless team in Pool A after a long week in Cape Girardeau, Minner went down the depth chart.

Bryant Gunn, Blake Wilburn and Talon McDaniel each worked an inning for the Squirrels, with none surrendering more than one hit as the relieving trio worked to hold the Netherlands to just two runs.

Not just that, but each of those three relievers racked up two strikeouts as well, racking up the Ks as Aycorp generated some swings and misses with those different options on the mound.

Working in some depth position players as well, getting some different looks ahead of a potential two-day, three-game playoff run, Minner talked it more about strategy than courtesy.

“They deserve an opportunity, and they come in and shine tonight,” Minner said. “Those guys you saw tonight, they'll have to factor in if we want to have a chance to win this thing.”

Between Tuesday’s game and Wednesday’s game, the Squirrels will take the longest rest they’ll have the rest of the way bidding they want to make a deep run, as Thursday’s schedule is a rowdy one.

With a 7:30 p.m. start against either No. 8 Lexington, Kentucky, or No. 9 Altoona, Pennsylvania, the Squirrels have roughly a day to recover between games before a potential 10 a.m. semifinal on Thursday.

More than anything, this is a bear on the pitching staff, with arms in Levi McKinnie and Peyton Hodges still working their way back, presenting many question marks.

While the job may have gotten done in pool play, that’s hardly compensation for the journey Aycorp has made over the past year, and it’ll start with a Wednesday tilt against a wild card.

“You beat Altoona, but you probably didn't see their best arm,” Minner said. “I would venture to say that their No. 1 and No. 2 will go [Wednesday]. Or Lexington, I know they had a really good lefty who started Game 1, so that could be interesting.

“There is no Thursday with a bad performance [Wednesday]. We’re making sure we play well tomorrow night, not have a letdown, and giving ourselves that chance to get to Thursday and see what happens.”