MICHAEL PISTELLA Ida Baker junior Kevin Cavanagh maks a pitch against Pasco County Monday in the Bud Roth Memorial Tournament at Terry Park. The Bulldogs battled their way to a 7-5 victory. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

Ida Baker and Mariner held together in the closest games of the opening round of the Bud Roth Memorial Tournament Monday at Terry Park. Both came away victorious.

Baker battled its way to a 7-5 victory over Pasco County while Mariner never trailed to escape with a 10-9 win over Wiregrass Ranch of Wesley Chapel.

In other games Monday, Pleasure Ridge Park (Ky.) broke open a tie game in the late innings to rout Cape Coral 15-5 and Fort Myers belted Naples Lely 11-1.

The Roth is actually two tournaments this year. One (black division) is a five-team round-robin with the team with the best record being declared the champion. The other (gold division) is a six-team, two pool play format with the top two teams in each pool playing for the championship Thursday and Friday.

Games are scheduled each of the next four days at Terry Park.

Ida Baker came from behind twice to secure its victory over Pasco County.

After scratching for the game’s first run in their first at-bat, the Bulldogs gave up two runs. Scoring at least one run in every inning except the second, the Bulldogs gave as good as they got.

Their second one-run lead of the game, 4-3 in the fourth, was short-lived as Pasco answered with two runs to take a 5-4 lead.

The Bulldogs tied it immediately in the sixth, setting the stage for a game-winning rally in the seventh.

With runners on first and second, Rob Serrano laid down a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Brandon Gutierrez (2-for-2) lined an RBI single to right for the winning run. Rob Johnson beat out a double-play attempt at first base to keep the inning alive and tack on an insurance run.

Mike Gulotta was 3-for-3 to lead the Bulldogs, while Justin Pinto contributed a 2-for-4 effort and each had one RBI.

Kevin Cavanagh pitched five innings, allowing one earned run and struck out seven. He gave way to Serrano (2-0), who pitched two scoreless innings with one strikeout to seal the win.

The Bulldogs (8-10) are back in action in the black division Wednesday against Naples Lely, an 11-1 loser to Fort Myers Monday.

Ida Baker101 111 2 – 7 12 2

Pasco Co.201 020 0 – 5 7 3

W – Rob Serrano (2-0). L – Castle.

2B – Rob Johnson (IB), Justin Pinto (IB), Breck (PC).

Mariner 10, Wiregrass Ranch 9: Walter Cleary and Alex Santana laced triples in the first inning to kickstart Mariner’s victory.

The Tritons led 5-1 before Wiregrass Ranch battled back to tie it 5-5 in the fourth. The Tritons opened another comfortable lead, 9-5, and held on for the one-run win.

Dan Cohill (2-for-3) contributed two doubles and one RBI and Cleary (2-for-3) drove in a run for the Tritons. Martin Evans (3-for-4) drove in two runs while Colt Masters added a pair of infield singles toward the Tritons’ 13 hits.

Stanley Padfield pitched 4 2/3 innings to earn his first win of the season.

The Tritons (15-2) resume play in the gold division pool B against South Fort Myers Wednesday.

Mariner 320 041 0 – 10 13 2

Wiregrass 103 131 0 – 9 12 3

W – Stanley Padfield. L – Porter.

2B – Dan Cohill (M) 2, Owens (WR), Madden (WR), Ganci (WR). 3B – Walter Cleary (M), Daniel Alimonti (M), Alex Santana (M), Gonzalez (WR).