Tropics 18u advance to Babe Ruth World Series semifinals with 3-1 win

Southeast Tropics 18u pitcher Drew Klipfel earned the win on the mound in the Tropics' 3-1 victory over the Columbia Basin RiverDogs on Thursday at Johnson O'Brien Stadium in Ephrata, Washington.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard Democrat, file

EPHRATA, Wash. — The Southeast Tropics 18u team is just one step away from playing for a world championship.

The Tropics (32-7) advanced to the semifinals of the Babe Ruth World Series with a 3-1 win over the hometown Columbia Basin RiverDogs at Johnson O'Brien Stadium.

Hayden Nazarenus broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run homer on a full count to give the Tropics the edge for good. Nazarenus went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, and is 6-for-16 in five tournament games.

The Tropics struck first, scoring in the third inning after Trey Fikes grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Drew Klipfel. Fikes also went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Klipfel earned the win on the mound, throwing 4 2/3 innings in relief. He allowed three hits and one earned run while striking out two and walking four.

Nate Rhew got the start for the Tropics, giving up two hits and walking one in just two innings of work.

Southeast went 3-1 in pool play, beating the Southwest Washington All-Stars (Toledo, Wash.), Klamath Falls Falcons (Klamath Falls, Ore.) and Lutz Hellcats (Lutz, Fla.) before dropping its final game to the Alabama Rawdogs (Mobile, Ala.) to finish second in the American Division.

The Tropics will face the No. 1 seed in the National Division, the Northwest Bakersfield Waves (Bakersfield, Calif.) at 4 p.m. on Friday with a championship berth on the line.