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Ricker Lifts ‘Stars’ To Win

Bonta Adds 4 Hits In Mid-Atlantic Regional

ATLANTIC SHORE, N.J. — Calvin Ricker scattered six hits over 5.1 innings and helped his own cause with three singles and three RBIs to spark the Jamestown Babe Ruth 15U All-Stars to a 15-2 victory over North Colonie in pool play at the Mid-Alantic Regional on Sunday.

The victory evened Jamestown’s record to 1-1, heading into today’s noon contest against West Windsor/Plainsboro, New Jersey.

“I think if we hit the ball like we did (Sunday), we should end up on the right side of things,” Coach Tommy Tantillo said.

More pitching like Ricker and reliever Ruben DeLeon provided will help.

“He was great,” Tantillo said of Ricker. ” … The kid is a true gamer. I was really pleased with his performance.”

All told, Ricker struck out six, walked three and didn’t allow an earned run. DeLeon came on in the sixth to finish things out.

Offensively the All-Stars pounded out 14 hits, including four by Ayden Bonta, three apiece by Ricker and Chris Navarro (double) and two by DeLeon. Owen Maggio also doubled for Jamestown, which scored in all but one inning. DeLeon and Kameron Melendez drove in a pair of runs, while Navarro, Bonta and Isaac Cintron drove in a run apiece.

Meanwhile North Colonie managed just seven hits against the Ricker-DeLeon combination.

“We knew that North Colonie could hit the fastball from watching them Saturday,” Tantillo said. “We figured that Cal, with his curveball and the way he likes to compete, would make them miss enough barrels.”

The victory came a day after Jamestown suffered a 14-9 setback to Frederick, Maryland.

Leading 5-0 after the first inning, the All-Stars had difficulty commanding the strike zone.

They issued 12 walks, and Frederick took full advantage, scoring eight runs in the third inning to take a 10-5 lead. Jamestown closed to within 12-9 after five innings, but Frederick tallied a run in both the sixth and seventh inning and held on for the win.

Kyle Smallback had two hits, and Bonta, Maggio and DeLeon each had a double for Jamestown.

The All-Stars can advance out of pool play with a win today. If they lose, they will have to rely on tie-breakers.

“We’re right there,” Tantillo said. “We feel like we belong. We had to play a better brand of baseball (against North Colonie) and we did that. Now we can focus on (today).”

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