Eight fielding errors by the Mariner Tritons proved costly as the Ida Baker Bulldogs rolled to a 14-2 victory Friday night in the championship game of the Orange Pool of the Early Bird Tournament at Terry Park.
Only one of Baker's 14 runs were earned because Mariner's errors kept extending the Bulldogs' at-bats.
Mariner's Luis Ferrer only surrendered two hits to the Bulldogs and struck out five in his 5 1/3 innings, but trailed 4-1 entering the sixth inning. He left as the Bulldogs started a six-run rally to turn the game into a rout.
Article Photos
MICHAEL PISTELLA
Ida Baker’s Michael Watson smacks an RBI double to left-center Friday in the Bulldogs’ 14-2 win over Mariner in the Cape Coral Early Bird Tournament Orange Pool championship game at Terry Park. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.
Michael Watson led the Bulldogs with three hits, three RBI and scored three runs. John Angelo also contributed two hits with one RBI and scored two runs.
Jonathan Ryker (2-0) picked up his second win of the season with five innings of one-hit ball. He walked two batters and went without a strikeout.
"When you beat three quality teams in the same week like we did it is huge for the program," said Bulldogs coach Ryan Jackson. "All the hard work we've done with these kids over the last three years is really paying off."
The Bulldogs open the season 3-0 for the first time is school history.
"It was a week of firsts for us," said Jackson. "We had never beaten Verot or Gulf Coast before and it's only the second time we've beaten Mariner, I believe."
The Bulldogs host Naples Lely on Tuesday while the Tritons (2-1) play Charlotte Monday in the Battle of the Border Tournament at Terry Park.
Ida Baker012 106 4 - 14 8 2
Mariner100 000 1 - 2 7 8
W - Ryker (2-0). L - Ferrer.
2B - Angelo (IB), Watson (IB), Carmichael (M).
Cape Coral 7, Lehigh 5: Brandon Marshall pitched a complete-game four hitter with 13 strikeouts as Cape Coral claimed the Blue Pool championship Friday night in the Early Bird Tournament at Terry Park.
Marshall also cracked a three-run homer in the first inning to seize the early momentum.
Cody Carroll and Luke Spangler went 3-for-3 and Kyle Arjona added a double.
"We have improved against a better opponent, but we left a lot of runners on base," said Seahawks coach Mike Gorton.
The Seahawks (3-0) play at Ida Baker on Thursday.
Island Coast 4, Estero 3: Wild pitches in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed the tying and winning runs to score in Island Coast's come-from-behind victory Friday.
Cameron Gellinger pitched the final two innings in relief, striking out four, to earn his first winning decision of the season. With the game tied 3-3 in the seventh, Gellinger was intentionally walked with a runner on third base. The second wild pitch followed to the next batter.
None of the Gators' four runs were earned. F.P. Corso had two of the Gators' four hits.
The Gators (2-0) play at Lehigh on Wednesday.
Estero002 010 0 - 3 4 5
Island Coast100 010 2 - 4 4 3
W - Gellinger (1-0). L - Martin.
Softball
Estero 7, Island Coast 6: Estero scored five unearned runs in the seventh inning to come from behind and beat Island Coast Friday.
Dana Ruff had two hits, including a double, and Darian Martin added two hits, including a double for the Gators. Ruff (1-1) struck out four and walked one in the losing effort.
The Gators (3-2) play at Lehigh Wednesday.
Estero001 001 5 - 7
Island Coast301 001 1 - 6
Riverdale 4, Mariner 2: Riverdale plated three runs in the 11th inning Friday to outlast Mariner in a marathon pitcher's duel.
Mariner's Alyssa Langdale threw 160 pitches and struck out 21 batters, but was pinned with the loss.
Heather Gillions and Alaina Hunt led the Tritons with two hits apiece.
The Raiders loaded the bases in the 11th inning and scored one run on a wild pitch and two on a base hit.
The Tritons had a chance to end it in the eighth inning, but the runner hesitated slightly and was thrown out at the plate.
The Tritons (4-4) host South Fort Myers Wednesday.
Riverdale 000 000 010 03 - 4 6 0
Mariner000 000 010 01 - 2 9 2
W - Cabeta. L - Langdale.
2B - Krolczyk (M), Hunt (M).
Wrestling
FHSAA Class 2A Finals: Ida Baker junior Brandon Gacad started his journey to a possible state championship in Lakeland by winning his first two matches Friday. He is now 33-1 this season.
The 8-2 and 17-5 triumphs in the 120-pound division takes Gacad into the semifinals Saturday. He placed second in the state at 113 pounds last year and is looking to improve on that finish in this, his third trip to the state finals.
Cape Coral's Dario Bredican (160) also won his two matches Friday, 7-4 and 7-2, to reach the semifinal round.
