OCALA, Fla. — When Bryce Stahl connects, it tends to matter. And across the Charleston Fighting Squirrels’ first three games at the Babe Ruth World Series, he’s connected often, launching four home runs in a span of four days to help the team open pool play with three straight run-rule wins.
Charleston followed its opening win with a pair of declarative performances, blanking tournament host Ocala Rotary 10-0 on Monday, August 4, and overpowering the United Kingdom 12-2 on Tuesday, August 5. Behind consistent early offense, sharp starting pitching and Stahl’s continued production in the middle of the order, the Squirrels improved to 3-0 in pool play.
“Stahl just continues to see it well,” said Charleston coach Michael Minner. “He’s having some great days that would be big-time performances at any level.”
Charleston wasted little time in its second pool play game, scoring three first-inning runs to grab control against Ocala Rotary. Aaron Dunlap, who finished with three hits, started the frame with a single before scoring on a base hit by Owen Osborne. Stahl followed with a home run to left that scored Osborne.
A six-run second inning broke the game open, highlighted by consecutive RBI singles from Dunlap, Beau Carrier and Will Friley, along with a double by Bryce McNabb that plated Lawson Graff. Charleston’s final run came in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly from Friley, scoring Sam McGill.
“Stahl, Dunlap and Carrier had good days at the plate,” Minner said. “The guys are seeing the ball well. We hope it continues.”
Brayson Green went the distance on the mound, tossing five scoreless innings and holding Ocala to two hits while striking out seven.
“Brayson was good,” Minner said. “He kept us in control, and our defense played well.”
Charleston carried the same script into the win over the United Kingdom, again striking for three runs in the first inning—this time with another swing from Stahl, who launched a three-run shot that also brought home Dunlap and Osborne.
Friley pushed the lead to 4-2 with a solo homer in the fourth inning, then Charleston broke things open with an eight-run fifth inning. McNabb started the rally with an RBI single, and Jacob Hester came home on a balk. A bases-loaded walk forced in another run, then Stahl delivered again—this time with a grand slam to left-center that gave him his seventh RBI of the game. McGill added the final run, scoring on an error.
Graff allowed just one hit and no earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, striking out eight. Baker worked the final two outs and stranded two runners to close the frame.
“Graff had a solid day and kept us in the game,” Minner said. “It was a hot one today. He really battled. Baker did a tremendous job coming in and escaping a jam. The field conditions are tough, and he settled in and held them off, and then we exploded.”
Charleston will wrap up pool play against the Philippines on Wednesday, August 6, at 7 p.m.