FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Orlando Scorpions Black team broke loose for five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Monday morning and defeated the East Cobb Braves, 7-4, in the semifinals of the WWBA Underclass World Championship.
Orlando trailed, 4-2, entering the sixth inning before rallying for the lead on four hits and three walks.
A.C. Carter ripped an RBI double to left, pulling the Scorpions within 4-3. Auston Bousfield hit a two-run single up the middle, giving the Scorpions a 5-4 edge. Jordan Taylor followed with an RBI single, making it 6-4, and the Scorpions added an insurance run on a fielder's choice.
Ryan Meyer, a 6-foot-6 righthander from Oviedo, Fla., came in to pitch for Orlando in the top of sixth inning with the Scorpions losing 4-2. He tossed two scoreless innings, flashing an 87 mph fastball, and struck out four batters.
The East Cobb Braves jumped to a 3-0 lead in the early innings with aggressive baserunning. The Braves scored twice on double-steals, once in the first inning when Nelson Ward crossed the plate and again in the third inning when Joel Van Ashe scored. Both double-steals began with runners at first and third. The runner from first broke for second, and when the throw went to the Orlando shortstop, the runner from third took off and beat the throw to the plate.
The Scorpions pulled within 3-1 in the bottom of the third when JoJo Woods drove in Kyle Teaf with a single to center. The Scorpions pulled within 3-2 on a long home run by Patrick Leonard to left field in the fourth.
The Braves took a 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Juan Montana. It stayed that way until Orlando scored its five runs in the sixth inning.
Leonard went 2-for-3 for the Scorpions with a home run, RBI and two runs scored. Bousfield was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Montana went 2-for-3 for East Cobb with a double and RBI.
The Orlando Scorpions advanced to the championship game against the Midland Braves/Royals Scout Team, which defeated the Florida Mustangs, 8-7, in 10 innings in the other semifinal Monday.