While It Was Raining...

One day, when Coach Regan is up on stage receiving her Oscar for Best Director, we'll want to look back and remember her very first feature film. That one starred some baseball player-turned-actors and was a masterpiece of composition and directing and also featured an unforgettable soundtrack.

You haven't seen everything from the state tournament until you've seen this one, which is currently in the lead as the video of the summer:



And while we're on the subject of great videos from the state tournament, here's the post-championship dance-off:

Championship Series Game 2: West Raleigh 10U Blue 6, Supper Optimist 0

West Raleigh 10U Blue put together one of the most complete performances of the summer, getting exceptional pitching and defense to go with timely hitting on the way to a 6-0 victory over Supper Optimist. The win gave 10U Blue the Eastern North Carolina state title and earned them a spot in the Southeast Regional next week in Glen Allen, Va.

10U Blue set the tone early with a three-run inning in the top of the first—courtesy of a clutch two-out hit from Andrew—and then rode suffocating pitching the rest of the way. Chace and Banks combined to walk just one while letting their defense do some incredible work (see below) behind them.

The biggest Supper threat came in the fourth, as they strung together three singles to load the bases with one out. But the next hitter rolled a grounder to Banks, who fired to Asher on the plate for the force. To make things interesting, Banks then decided to go 3-0 on the next hitter, then stormed back with three straight strikes to record the swinging strikeout and end the inning. Crazy stat alert: After Supper took a 4-2 lead in the third inning of Sunday’s first game of the championship series, 10U Blue outscored them 18-0 over the next eight innings.

For the game, five of the six West Raleigh runs came with two outs, making it 18 of the last 38 10U Blue runs that have scored with two outs.

The state title means this group has now won four straight state championships. After the fourth, they found a good alternate use for their giant yellow water bottles:

The real drama came after the game, as 12 rambunctious 10-year-olds tried to fit into one selfie. Here’s what that looks like from the other side:

And then here’s the final product, which was only achieved after Coach Kevin broke out a selfie stick and Coach Regan provided some crucial instruction:

No practice Tuesday as Coach Sean recovers from his midnight trip to Sunni Sky’s. By the way, in case you think Baker is only a professional wrestling savant, he also knows a little something about baseball. Around the third inning, he announced, “We’re going to win and we’re going to score six runs.” So next week when you’re chewing your fingernails in Glen Allen, just go ask Baker what’s going to happen.

Championship 2 WR 10U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Banks singled. With two outs, Chace singled. Ben singled to load the bases, and then Andrew came through with a clutch two-out, three-run double.

Score after one inning: WR 10U Blue 3, Supper Optimist 0

Second inning

Asher reached on a fielder’s choice. Bryce singled. Banks doubled home Asher.

Score after two innings: WR 10U Blue 4, Supper Optimist 0

Fifth inning

Gavin smacked a leadoff single. Chace reached on a shot to the left side. Ben was hit by a pitch. JT drew an RBI walk.

Score after three innings: WR 10U Blue 5, Supper Optimist 0

Sixth inning

Asher singled. A wild pitch moved him to second, and Bryce drove him in with a single.

Score after four innings: WR 10U Blue 6, Supper Optimist 0




Pitching Performances

Chace started and fired three scoreless innings without allowing a runner past second base.

Banks threw the final three innings and did not walk a batter while continuing the shutout.

Championship 2 Web Gems

•   Bryce started the game by spearing a rocket shot at third against the leadoff man.

•   Eli made a phenomenal full-extension diving catch in right-center against the very next batter.

•   Ben made a great sliding catch in left field against the leadoff man in the third.

•   Banks stabbed a line drive back through the middle in the sixth.

Championship 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
WR 10U Blue	3	1	0	0	1	1	6	12
Supper Optimist	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7

Behind the Scenes at the State Tournament

Game two of the best-of-three championship series is currently delayed by rain. We are aiming for a 7:30 p.m. start time. In the meantime, let's go behind the scenes at the state tournament. In all seriousness, huge thanks to the Marriott Courtyard on Van Campen Blvd. for being terrific hosts and allowing us to use a very nice conference room for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all sorts of shenanigans. Here we have Coach Sean going all in to win a pot of what is apparently barbecue potato chips (high stakes on the road with 10U Blue, folks):

And then, during a break in the action--presumably to put the other players to sleep and allow Coach Sean to cash in--we have GM Liz reading the blog aloud. It is not true that John was overheard to say, "Wait, we have a blog?"

Of course, any time Coach Regan is around, there's never a lack of fun:

But don't think it's been all a bunch of laughs here in Wilmington for 10U Blue. Into every life a little rain--or something worse than rain--must fall, as Bryce demonstrates here at the beach on Monday morning. Yes, that is what you think it is (hint: it's not sunscreen):

Now, let's head for game two. Ready? 1-2-3, CLEAR PEE:

Championship Series Game 1: West Raleigh 10U Blue 14, Supper Optimist 4

West Raleigh took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three state championship series with a 14-4 win over Supper Optimist in a game shortened to four innings by the run rule.

The game featured some amazing fortune-telling by Coach Sean and Coach Kevin. 10U Blue had battled back from deficits of 3-1 and 4-2 to tie the score at four in the fourth. After a 1-2-3 top of the frame, Coach Kevin said, “I think it’s time that we’re going to break it open.” Coach Sean then gathered the team around him and gently requested a 10-run inning. Five hits, four walks and a hit batter later, that’s exactly what he had, as West Raleigh sent 14 hitters to the plate in the fourth to end the game.

That was more than enough offense to support a stellar pitching effort that allowed just two hits, backed by a defense that overcame a couple hiccups to make timely plays when needed.

Game two of the championship series is scheduled for Monday at 5:30, weather permitting.

Championship 1 WR 10U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Bryce singled and took third when the ball skipped to the fence. After a walk to Banks, Bryce stole home.

Score after one inning: WR 10U Blue 1, Supper Optimist 1

Second inning

Ben singled. Andrew was hit by a pitch. Colin reached on a fielder’s choice. Elias drew a two-out RBI walk.

Score after two innings: Supper Optimist 3, WR 10U Blue 2

Third inning

Gavin drew a one-out walk. Chace singled. Ben smashed a two-run double.

Score after three innings: WR 10U Blue 4, Supper Optimist 4

Fourth inning

Elias worked a one-out walk. A wild pitch moved him to second. Bryce was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch moved up both runners. Banks drove in Eli with a fielder’s choice that featured textbook baserunning by Elias. Gavin demolished a backbreaking three-run homer. Chace walked. Ben was hit by a pitch. Andrew hit an RBI double. Colin hit an RBI single. Joe and Asher walked. Bryce smacked an RBI single, and then Banks—who has decided he likes hitting in walk-off situations instead of being on deck—ended things with an RBI single.

Score after four innings: WR 10U Blue 14, Supper Optimist 4




Pitching Performances

Andrew started and fanned a pair.

Joe worked a strong three innings of relief, including retiring the final five hitters he faced.

Championship 1 Web Gems

•   Gavin raced out to shallow left field to haul in a popup over shortstop in the fourth.

•   The first pitcher on Monday to cover first base on a ball to the right side will receive an automatic Web Gem.

Championship 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Supper Optimist	1	2	1	0	X	X	4	2
WR 10U Blue	1	1	2	10	X	X	14	9

State Tournament Game 3: West Raleigh 10U Blue 9, Deep River Northview 3

West Raleigh advanced to the Eastern North Carolina state championship series with a 9-3 win over Deep River Northview on Sunday afternoon.

Deep River actually outhit 10U Blue 9-8. But the game was won in other ways, as a pair of West Raleigh pitchers combined to walk just one in six innings (compared to West Raleigh hitters drawing five walks) and the 10U Blue defense played six innings of error-free baseball to cement the win.

Game 3 WR 10U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Gavin singled, and then Chace launched a two-run homer.

Score after one inning: WR 10U Blue 2, Deep River 0

Second inning

Andrew walked and went to second on a wild pitch. JT’s fielder’s choice moved him to third, and a double from Colin scored him.

Score after two innings: WR 10U Blue 3, Deep River 0

Third inning

Banks cracked a two-run double. Gavin singled him home and took second on the throw. Chace walked. Ben beat out a fielder’s choice that loaded the bases. Brady drew an RBI walk. JT drew an RBI walk. Joe laced a two-run single.

Score after three innings: WR 10U Blue 8, Deep River 0

Fourth inning

Gavin singled and stole second. Chace singled him home.

Score after four innings: WR 10U Blue 9, Deep River 2




Pitching Performances

Ben had the longest outing of the summer so far, throwing three and two-thirds terrific innings, including 15 of his first 16 pitches for strikes.

Bryce worked the final two and a third innings and didn’t walk a batter in closing out the win.

Game 3 Web Gems

•   Ben made a leaping stab of a ball ticketed to go over the pitcher’s mound in the first.

•   Playing third base, Bryce showed good range to his left, scooping up a grounder and firing to first for the out.

•   Colin, Gavin and Chace teamed up on a textbook 4-6-3 double play in the fifth.

•   With runners on first and third in the sixth, Brady hauled in a fly ball to right and uncorked a birth certificate-worthy throw to the plate to hold the runners.

•   JT made a sweet diving catch in left field in the sixth that saved a run.

Game 3 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Deep River	0	0	0	2	0	1	3	9
WR 10U Blue	2	1	5	1	0	X	9	8