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

State Tournament Game 2: West Raleigh 10U Blue 9, Winter Park 8

West Raleigh moved into the American League bracket final with a walk-off come-from-behind 9-8 win over host Winter Park on Saturday afternoon.

The game featured two separate 10U Blue rallies; one after trailing 5-3 in the third, and another after trailing 8-7 going into the bottom of the sixth. With West Raleigh batting in the sixth and a runner on first in a one-run game, Ben took a break from the sniper convoy in the dugout to correctly sum up the day’s events: “This is intense.”

The plan for the bottom of the sixth was pretty simple: get him on (Elias walked), get him over (Asher sacrificed), get him in (Banks tied the game, then Gavin won it). It wasn’t very pretty, but it worked.

Despite some uncharacteristic defensive and baserunning lapses and some interesting rule interpretations, West Raleigh stayed in contention with effective pitching (just one walk in six innings) and just enough timely hitting. Five of the nine 10U Blue runs were scored with two outs, and six of the 12 10U Blue hits came with two strikes.

Most of the West Raleigh fans celebrated with a British fist bump, although they did not try to say it three times fast. Sadly, times are tough, and having blown the budget on RV’s and rental ringer players, the remaining 10U Blue funds don’t allow for separate tubs. Hence you get photos like these:

Tomorrow's game will be at 2 p.m. against Deep River, the team 10U faced on Friday. Bring shade, because these ladies don't look like they're sharing:

If anyone shows up without a shirt or suddenly says they don't have a car, here's a hint on what might have happened:

Game 2 WR 10U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Banks beat out a one-out single. Gavin walked. Chace launched a two-run double. JT rocketed a two-out RBI single.

Score after one inning: WR 10U Blue 3, Winter Park 0

Third inning

Gavin lined a two-out single and went to second on a wild pitch. Chace singled. Gavin and Chace teamed up to steal home and second, respectively, and then Chace went into third during all the commotion. Brady lined an RBI single.

Score after three innings: WR 10U Blue 5, Winter Park 5

Fourth inning

Asher coaxed a two-out walk. Bryce and Banks smacked back-to-back singles. Gavin drove in a pair with a single.

Score after four innings: WR 10U Blue 7, Winter Park 5

Sixth inning

Elias drew a leadoff walk. Asher sacrificed him to second. Bryce reached on an error and stole second. Banks, surprisingly getting to hit in a potential walk-off situation, tied the game with an RBI single. Gavin went walk-off with an RBI single that scored Bryce.

Score after six innings: WR 10U Blue 9, Winter Park 8




Pitching Performances

Chace started and went two-plus innings, buzzing through the top of the order 1-2-3 in the first.

Banks worked out of a jam with minimal damage in the third, then threw two more strong innings of relief.

Colin cruised through a 1-2-3 sixth against the top of the order.

Game 2 Web Gems

•   Bryce raced in to make a sprawling catch on a soft liner in front of third base in the third.

•   Chace ranged way over by the fence to grab a pop foul for the final out in the top of the sixth.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Winter Park	0	1	4	0	3	0	8	9
WR 10U Blue	3	0	2	2	0	2	9	12