If the Bennetts Creek 9-10 American All-Star team wasn’t perfect in its 19-0 defeat of Wilson at Driver Elementary School on Wednesday, they were as close as a team can come. The offense scored seven runs in the second inning and 10 in the fourth to light up the scoreboard, and pitcher Ben Joslin handled the defensive duties, striking out 11 of 13 batters and allowing only one hit.

Joslin himself started off the BC offense in the first inning, as he scored when Traquel Burch reached on an error. But it was the only run BC would score that inning, so the nine-year-old hurler had a very small cushion as he headed to the mound.

It didn’t matter. Joslin struck out the side, throwing only one ball in the entire half-inning. In the second, his teamates turned the cushion into a full-length mattress.

Melvin Turner drew a walk, and Tyler Steven singled him to second. Ashton Moore struck out, but a double steal moved both runners into scoring position. Darrell Williams and Zach Vann then walked to force in Turner. Joslin hit into a fielder’s choice, resulting in Vann being forced out at second. Stevens scored, however, extending the lead to 3-0.

Jay Riddick smashed a line shot into left field, and the ball landed on the foul line to stay fair. Williams and Joslin came in, and Riddick slid into second for a triple.

&uot;I knew that my hitting would be awesome, because I’ve been practicing at home,&uot; said Riddick, 10.

Horton followed with a triple of his own a moment later, and Riddick pushed the lead to 6-0. Burch reached on an error again, and Horton charged to the plate. Showing his speed, Burch stole second, third, and home, and the inning ending with BC up, 8-0.

Wilson got its only hit in the second, as Joey Carawan singled to right field. But Joslin struck out Josh Jayner and Matt Renigar, and Wilson didn’t put another runner on.

Vann scored the lone BC run of the third, coming in on a single by Joslin, who proceeded to strike out the side again. In the fourth, the BC offense had its biggest inning of the tournament.

A single to center field by Horton got things rolling, and a triple by Burch brought him in. Burch then stole home for the second time, and the lead was 11-0. Turner, eager to show his own baserunning skills, stole second, third, and home himself.

Chase Bowman drew a walk, and stole second and third. Raphael Edwards got his team’s third consecutive walk. On the next pitch, he broke for second, and the Wilson catcher attempted to throw him out. Seeing the throw, Bowman broke for home. As Edwards slid safely into second, Bowman crossed the plate for a 13-0 advantage. Vann and Joslin made outs, but Edwards scored on Joslin’s groundout. Josh Barringer walked, stole second, and scored on a double by Riddick.

With the score now 15-0, Horton and Burch walked to load the bases. Turner headed to the plate. He took an outside pitch, and swung and missed to move the count to 1-1. The third pitch came in high, but he swung anyway.

It was a good thing; the ball spurted into center field, past the Wilson center fielder. Riddick, Horton, and Burch scored, and Turner hurtled toward the plate, losing his helmet in the process. The throw in was wild, and he crossed the plate for a grand slam.

&uot;I swung at a high pitch that I didn’t really want,&uot; said Turner, a student at Booker T. Washington Middle School. &uot;The coaches were just telling me to run, and I never stopped.&uot;

As icing on the cake, Joslin struck out the side in the fourth, and the game was over. BC’s next game will be today at 12:30 p.m.

&uot;I just wanted to throw strikes,&uot; Joslin said with a shrug.