A hot hitting afternoon allowed Gerard Farms to plow past Tidewater Energy 17-11 on Wednesday and into the Rookie Division championship game of the Cal Ripken League.
Gerard Farms had several stars on Wednesday and were led by Shawn Gerard, who went 4-4 with four RBIs, while Luke Paul went 2-4 with two RBIs and Michael Gerard finished 3-3 with five RBIs.
The victory advanced the team to the title game of the double-elimination tournament and preserved its undefeated postseason record.
“They’ve played great all year. I couldn’t ask for a better team,” Gerard Farms coach Michael Gerard said. “They practiced hitting last night for two hours … they put their heart into it and today they went out there and ripped the ball.”
Gerard Farms held a slim 5-3 lead heading into the home half of the third inning and that’s when they put the game out of reach with a six-run rally.
Tidewater Energy fought hard as it rallied for four runs in the fourth and another four in the fifth but could not catch up to Gerard Farms.
“We played a really good team and we played hard, but we will be ready for tomorrow night,” said Tidewater Energy coach Jay Dixon.
The loss was the first of the postseason for Tidewater Energy, who must win its next game to advance to the title game.
“I told them after the game that we hit the ball pretty good and we’re still alive,” Dixon said.
Tidewater struck first as it scored a run one run in the top of the first, then another in the second and third before busting out for four runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Will Grimes went 3-4, Aven Harris was 3-4 with two RBIs and Dawia Williams finished 3-3 with an RBI to power Tidewater Energy.
“Our lineup is real strong and most of the time if we can score with the top of the order then we can bat around,” Dixon said. “All of our guys can hit and that’s a rarity out here.”

Tidewater Energy    111    440    —    11    20
Gerard Farms    326    51x    —    17    25
Hitting: T — Will Grimes 3-4 (1R), Max Baltz 1-4 (1R), Aven Harris 3-4 (R, 2 RBI), Evan Waters 1-3 (3B, 2 RBI), Mathew Dixon 2-3 (2R, RBI), Mathew Perry 1-3 (RBI), Avery Martin 2-3 (1R), Dawia Williams 3-3 (2R, RBI), Gary Payne 1-3 (2B, 2 RBI), Conner Lewis 1-3, Liam Paul 2-3 (1R); G — Luke Brown 2-4 (2B, R, RBI), Matt Craig 1-4 (3B, R, RBI), Dawson Mitchell 3-4 (3R), Shawn Gerard 4-4 (3R, 2 3B, 2B, 4 RBI), Luke Paul 3-4 (2B, 3B, 3R, 2 RBI), Michael Gerard 3-3 (HR, 5 RBI), Walker Heath 1-3 (1R), Gus Vansant 1-3, David Wallace 2-3 (2R, RBI), Andrew Harp 3-3 (2 RBI, 2 R), Dylan Woolard 2-3.