Fighting Squirrels downed by Dirtbags in pitchers' duel

The Delano Dirtbags of California continued their unbeaten streak in the pool portion of the Babe Ruth World Series with a 3-2 win over the Charleston Fighting Squirrels on Wednesday in Capaha Field.

The game was a pitchers' duel between Peyton Hodges of the Fighting Squirrels and Nolan Keene of the Dirtbags, both of whom took home player of the game honors. Hodges went five and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking four. Keene took the win after surrendering five hits and one run over six innings, striking out four and walking one.

"I felt like the fastball is really working," Keene said. "I feel like you got to give everything you got. I've always been that quick-tempo kind of guy."

The Dirtbags struck first in the third inning on a Diego Sanchez RBI single. The Fighting Squirrels answered back in the bottom half on an RBI single by Will Green to keep the game tied 1-1.

The two teams matched each other defensively until the sixth inning. California loaded the bases and forced Hodges out of the game. After Noah Pruitt entered the mound, the Dirtbags broke the tie with two runs on a single by Tyler Dorn and a walk by Manuel Veleta.

"In this game, the little things always matter," Keene said.

Green went 2-for-4 at the plate, and Rafe Byassee also collected two hits for the Fighting Squirrels. Hodges reentered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, reached base on a hit, and scored a run.

Trevor Hampel earned the save for California. The Dirtbags (3-0) have a chance to secure the top seed in bracket play with a win over Pennsylvania on Thursday at noon in Cape Central High School.

The Fighting Squirrels (0-3) have a chance to avoid elimination with a Pennsylvania and Connecticut loss and a win over Asia Pacific 18U on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Capaha Field.