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The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
Wilson picked up their fourth Moore League win on Tuesday against Lakewood, piling up six runs in the sixth inning en route to a victory, 10-2.
The Bruins took command of a three run lead through the first four innings, before four straight walks and a wild pitch gave up two Lancer runs. The Bruins lead was cut to just one as they headed back to the dugout.
That’s when Wilson coach Andy Hall looked at his team and shouted, “we need to stop trying not to lose and go try and win,” which they didn’t take lightly.
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The Bruins responded in an explosive sixth frame starting with an RBI single from Aaron Mingo. Ryan Dissman then smacked a two RBI single before Rudy Carlos swung a first pitch bomb over the right field fence for a three-run homerun. Wilson’s six-run frame gave them an eight run lead before a 1-2-3 seventh inning from Mingo to all but seal it for the Bruins.
“I think it speaks to the character of the guys on our team,” said Hall after the game. “I think that in [the fifth inning] when we walked four guys that we stopped playing to win and started playing to not lose which is a big difference. I think that inning after we scored six made a big statement that we were here to play.”
Carlos’s homer in the sixth inning added to his totalled three hits on the day and four RBI. He finished ¾ at the plate with a double and a single alongside two runs scored.
“It means a lot [to be relied on for this team]. Just playing for these guys is awesome and to be able to help like that is amazing,” said Carlos.
Mingo also chipped in two RBI and a walk while hitting ⅔ at the plate. The senior came in to relief pitch in the top of the sixth where he went on to conduct back-to-back 1-2-3 innings.
“He’s a special athlete and we’ve asked him to do some things this year that he hasn’t done before, especially as far as pitching goes,” said Hall. “He’s really matured a lot especially in the last 4-5 months and he’s started to take that role as a leader on our team and he does what that role is. To come and have a clean seventh inning, it does my heart very well.”
“I’m always going up to the plate thinking I’m the best player on the field and I’m just always trying to help my team win,” said Mingo. “[When I got put in to pitch] just started to strike one with the most batters and used a couple groundouts which definitely helped.”
Mingo started the Bruins scoring in the first inning with an RBI single to plate Taylor Kirk. The Bruins also found runs in the third and fourth innings thanks to a run on error from Kirk and an RBI double from Owen Ehmann in their respective innings. Carlos also hit an RBI single to score Ryan Dissman in the fifth.
“We’re getting better at hitting,” said Hall. “I like that I can put a guy into pinch hit and get a hit, and a guy who’s been sitting for six innings can come into the game and bang one to left field. I like who we are and I like where we’re going.”
Lakewood’s pair of runs came in the top of the fifth when a fourth straight walk sent Noah Nunez to the plate. Angelo Ortiz also scored on a pitch that got away from the Wilson defense.
The Bruins also received solid work on the mound from Junior Ben Howard. Howard racked up six strikeouts including three looking through his 4.6 innings pitched.
Wilson will look ahead to face Wilson on Thursday meanwhile Lakewood will be at Cabrillo on Thursday with both games taking place at 4:00 pm.
