Babe Ruth semifinal matchups set for today

The Senior Babe Ruth World Series defending champions begin their quest for their second straight title today when they take on Cape Cod in a tournament semifinal at 5 p.m. Portland plays Ottumwa (Iowa) at 8 p.m. in the other semi.

by Alan Dale & Herald Sports Writer
| August 11, 2011 3:15 AM

EPHRATA - Team Cape Cod has shown a steady resillience so far in the 2011 Senior Babe Ruth World Series at Johnson-O'Brien Stadium.

That paid off with a spot in the single-elimination playoff bracket which began last night.

Cape Cod faced off with another equally scrappy, Onondaga (N.Y.) squad, the team that eliminated the host Columbia Basin RiverDogs on Wednesday.

In the end, Cape Cod got the measure of their east coast brethren, taking a 5-2 decision and with that a reward of a semifinal matchup with the defending tournament champions, Mobile (Ala.).

That game is at 5 p.m.

Also last night, Ottumwa (Iowa) held on to defeat Noblesville (Ind.) 4-3 in the other first round game.

Ottumwa takes on the only unbeaten team in the field, Portland (Ore.) in the other semifinal at 8 p.m. this evening.

The big blow for Cape Cod came in the bottom half of the third inning when they broke a 0-0 deadlock with a four-run explosion.

Cape Cod tacked on another run in the fourth and would follow the lead of starting pitcher Will Nastasi who went six innings and scattered seven hits to earn the win.

Andrew Rogers hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning for Noblesville as they took the lead first, 1-0.

In response, the Iowans rallied for three runs in the bottom of the frame to claim the lead which they would never relinquish.

Noblesville then rallied to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh putting the ball in Ottumwa's court, to answer.

Ottumwa had a chance to win in the bottom of the eighth but a play at the plate went Noblesville's way and the score remained 3-3.

They got another chance in the bottom of the ninth and Ottumwa took advantage as Derek Asuras was brought home on an Andrew Utterback double to win the game.

If Mobile and Portland were to win tonight, they would play tomorrow in a 1 p.m. rematch of last year's title game, which Mobile won.