Charleston Senior Babe Ruth reaches state semifinals

The Charleston Fighting Squirrels Senior Babe Ruth baseball team booked a spot in the semifinals of the Midwest Plains Regional with a 7-1 win against Border, Colorado, on Sunday in Lyons, Kansas.

Brady Bibbs recorded a complete-game victory for the Fighting Squirrels at Battershell Field. Bibbs, who is entering his senior season at Senath-Hornersville, allowed one run, 13 hits, struck out four and did not walk a hitter in seven innings of work.

"Bibbs was tremendous today," Squirrels coach Michael Minner said. "He gave up quite a few hits but never seemed to be in trouble. We got the bullpen up in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings in case he hit a wall because it was so hot. But he was in command all day, threw strikes, and we made plays defensively. I thought we were probably as good as we have been offensively at the plate as far as competitiveness. We gritted out some good at-bats, and Pope had another good day for us with three RBIs."

Charleston tallied a run in the first inning, three runs in the third, a run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth before Border scored its run in the top of the seventh.

Adam Pope, a recent graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School, finished 2 for 3 at the plate with his team-high three RBIs. Pope had an RBI single in the first and a two-run single in the third.

Catcher Colton Averett, a recent Dexter graduate who will play baseball at Shawnee Community College, finished 2 for 3. Averett had RBI singles in the second and fourth innings.

Blake Wolferding, who will be entering his senior season at Sikeston, finished 2 for 3. Wolferding recorded a double in the third inning and had an RBI single in the fourth.

Chandler Young, who will be a senior at Dexter, drove home a run with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

Kelly talent Ty Householder and Sikeston talent Wyatt Pratt both went 2 for 3 at the plate for the Squirrels.

"Sometimes you have one of those games that locks you in," Minner said about the offense. "I thought we looked good at the plate today. The top of our order was really good, and the guys at the bottom of the order got on base. Chandler Young also picked up a sacrifice fly coming off the bench. Overall, it was just a good day and we are excited to still be playing. This is where we want to be. You cannot win the regional if you don't advance, and now we have advanced."

Border scored its run in the top of the seventh inning on a wild pitch after three consecutive singles with nobody out.

Zach Spencer pitched the first three innings for Border. Slade Pletcher pitched the rest of the way for Colorado.

The Fighting Squirrels finish 3-0 in the American League Pool. Charleston plays its regional semifinal at 10 a.m. today against Hopkins, Minnesota. The regional championship will be at 4 p.m. today.

"You throw your record out the window Monday," Minner said. "We are excited to be 19-23, and our record is starting to look a little better. But we need to win two games Monday to go to the World Series, which is what we set as our goal. These are the games we try to prepare for. It's probably the first time all year we've won three games in a row."

The Fighting Squirrels have had four pitchers throw at least five innings over the first three days of the tournament. Cameron Clark threw a complete-game in Charleston's 10-4 win against Bismarck, North Dakota, on Friday. Bruce Simmons and Pope both threw five innings in Charleston's 3-2 win in 10 innings over Riverton, Kansas, and Bibbs threw a complete-game Sunday.

Minner said Householder, Kyle Moore, Austin Aldridge, Young and Blake Simmons are fresh and options to take the ball today. Minner added he anticipates Clark will be ready to pitch on two days rest.

"All it takes is a couple guys throwing the games of their life, and normally when you are in situations like this, the team that wins has the pitcher that threw the game of his life," Minner said. "We need two guys to throw the game of their life Monday, and then we can make reservations for the World Series."

Border 000 000 1 --- 1 13 1

Charleston 103 120 x -- 7 12 1

WP -- Brady Bibbs. LP -- Zach Spencer. 3B -- Ryan Nolin. 2B -- Blake Wolferding (CH), Hunter Cook (CH). Multiple hits -- Charleston: Blake Wolferding 2-4, Adam Pope 2-3, Wyatt Pratt 2-3, Colton Averett 2-3, Ty Householder 2-3; Border: Nolin 3-4, Trey Walters 2-4, Tyler Woodhans 2-4, Gunner Kroeger 2-4, Chance Dunker 2-3.