Prep Report: Riverdale’s nightmare first inning dooms Cape’s Seahawks in 13-2 defeat
Nine runs, six hits, four walks, 13 batters, two left on base. That was just the top of the first inning.
Riverdale took advantage of those numbers to pin a 13-2, five-inning defeat on the Cape Coral Seahawks Tuesday night in the second round of the Bud Roth Memorial Tournament at Terry Park.
Take away that nightmare start and the Seahawks still lost the game, but by a much more consoling two runs.
“That’s been the story of our year,” said Seahawks coach Mike Gorton. “That can happen with young kids. One bad inning.”
The Raiders (16-1) feasted on Cape starter Cain Spangler in the first, but the sophomore limited the Raiders to four runs, six hits, stranded four baserunners and struck out six over the last four innings.
“Cain is a slow starter,” said Gorton, who left the right-hander on the hill despite the discouraging opening. “After the first inning or two he settles down and pitches well.”
The Raiders had the bases loaded three separate times in the first inning. After a leadoff groundout, 11 straight batters reached base. One runner was forced out at second on a ground ball and Garrett Greenwell (3-for-4, 2 RBI) struck out to end the inning.
Half of the Raiders’ 12 basehits went for extra bases – two doubles and four triples. Two of those triples were off the bat of Kyle Waldrop (3-for-4, 4 RBI), who laced a three-run triple to dead center field with two out in the first.
Jordan Turner started on the mound for the Raiders, surrendering one hit with one strikeout over two innings. Clayton Payne pitched the last three innings to pick up the win, surrendering two runs on three hits with two strikeouts.
The Seahawks (3-14), who had just one base hit in the first four innings, opened the fifth with three straight singles to load the bases. A wild pickoff throw to first base by catcher Juan Berrios, plated Cape’s first run and moved the other runners up to second and third. After an infield fly for the first out, Spangler ripped a sacrifice fly to left field for the second run.
After absorbing a 15-5 defeat Monday on top of Tuesday’s 13-2 loss, Gorton said the Seahawks were not feeling shellshocked.
“Not really. We just have to start to get into a grind and try to get a win in the next one,” said Gorton.
In the other tournament games Tuesday, Wiregrass Ranch topped South Fort Myers 8-2, Pasco County blanked Naples Lely 13-0 and Fort Myers came from behind to foil Bishop Verot 11-6.
The Seahawks are in action again Thursday.
Wednesday’s activity begins at 4:30 p.m. with a home run derby. Four games follow at 7 p.m. – Ida Baker against Lely, Pleasure Ridge Park (Ky.) against Riverdale, Mariner takes on South Fort Myers and Bishop Verot battles Pasco County.
Riverdale911 11 – 13 12 2
Cape Coral000 02 – 2 4 2
W – Clayton Payne. L – Cain Spangler.
2B – Josh Corkhill (R), Alex Mata (R). 3B – Kyle Waldrop (R) 2, Juan Berrios (R), Garrett Greenwell (R).
Fort Myers 11, Bishop Verot 6: Fort Myers fought back from a 2-0 deficit, a 5-1 deficit, and finally a 6-3 deficit to down Roth tournament host Bishop Verot.
The Green Wave (11-8) took the lead for good at 7-6 after a four-run rally in the fifth inning and tacked on four insurance runs in the sixth to seal the win.
Verot opposes Pasco County Wednesday in the black division round robin while Fort Myers takes on Pasco County Thursday.
Bishop Verot113 010 0 – 6 12 2
Fort Myers012 044 x – 11 12 3
W – Sanger. L – Josh Garcia.
2B – Tom Dougherty (BV), Nick Rivera (BV), Collins (FM), Correnti (FM), Drew (FM). 3B – Zach Haefeli.


