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Braden River kills suspense in opener

GULFPORT -- If there were any questions about whether Florida Braden River could take a lead and hold on to it, they were erased in the opening game of the Southeast Region Tournament.

In front of a packed stadium, Braden River got to Tennessee starter Logan Wild for eight runs in the second. The 10-run mercy rule went into effect against the team from Morristown two innings later.

"I thought we were going to win, but not by 10 runs," pitcher Vincent Keen said.

It was the first time Braden River scored more than 10 in a game since the tournament season began in June. The most it had scored was eight against Boynton Beach during the state tournament.

Braden River developed a reputation for pouncing on teams late through the sectional and state tournaments. Palm Harbor lost the state final 2-1 after Braden River scored twice in the sixth, the final inning.

Keen struck out 10 and allowed one hit, a single in the first. He threw 58 pitches.

Wild looked as if he were in control after he struck out two swinging in the first, but control problems troubled the right-hander, and they didn't go unnoticed.

"You're not supposed to swing at balls," Florida coach Bob Cross said.

"It took three batters to see his control, but he walked quite a few batters."

Wild walked the bases loaded in the second and walked in Florida's first two runs. He walked six in all. .

Jacob Wilbanks put the game out of reach with a three-run home run to rightfield in the second, and he ended the game with a run-scoring single to center.

"You can basically feel it in the bat when you hit it," said Wilbanks, who was celebrating his 13th birthday.

"When I got out there, I was just trying to pick a spot where to hit it."

Florida is in first place in Pool II after the first day of play and faces Alabama at 7 tonight.

WEST VIRGINIA 5, SOUTH CAROLINA 0: West Virginia scored all of its runs in the fourth to win its first tournament game. Michael Cuevas pitched six innings, scattering four hits and striking out 12 for West Virginia. Tyler Hester and Bryan Reifer had run-scoring hits.

WORLD SERIES: Teams from Japan, Guam, Netherlands Antilles and Venezuela won region tournaments to reach the championship round, which begins Aug. 17 in Williamsport, Pa.

-- Information from Times wires was used in this report.

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