Area Tournament Championship: West Raleigh 10U Blue 17, OBX 7 #Wooooooooo

It actually was as nice a day as it looked like on Sunday in Roanoke Rapids:

And 10U Blue made good use of the weather, winning the area championship with a 17-7 victory over Outer Banks in a game shortened to five innings by the run rule. The game saw 10U Blue's biggest offensive output of the weekend, as they pounded out 16 hits. Most impressively, however, they also answered OBX's roundhouse of a fourth inning, as the visitors put up seven runs in the top of the fourth--by far the biggest inning against WR 10U this summer--to tie the score at seven.

With the score tied and the crowd getting a little rowdy, West Raleigh responded in the bottom of the fourth by hanging an eight-spot, retaking the lead they had held and even padding it by a run. Then they closed it out in the fifth by plating two more runs to invoke the 10-run rule. 

For the tournament, West Raleigh pitched all 11 available pitchers and outscored four opponents 54-10. Monday is an off day before state tournament preparation begins on Tuesday.

As per usual, 10U Blue celebrated with the formal team photo:

And then the team selfie:

Championship #selfie after the area tourney win: pic.twitter.com/jiWGCsscAq

— West Raleigh 10U (@WR10UBlue) June 28, 2015

You can also cross another goal off the list. See that area over to the right where it lists the summer schedule? It used to say "If Qualified" beside the state tournament. No longer, because 10U Blue is officially qualified.

Championship 10U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Bryce walked. Banks singled. A wild pitch advanced both runners. Chace was intentionally walked. Ben singled home Bryce. Brady drew a two-out bases loaded walk. Elias was hit by a pitch, forcing in Chace. JT picked up an RBI walk.

Score after one inning: WR 10U Blue 4, OBX 0

Second inning
Bryce singled. Banks singled and then took second on the throw. Gavin lashed a two-run double. A wild pitch moved him to third, where he scored on Chace's fielder's choice.
Score after two innings: WR 10U Blue 7, OBX 0

Fourth inning (WOOOOOOOO!!!) (You had to be there)
With one out, Andrew sprinted down the line and beat out an infield single. Brady singled. Elias was hit by a pitch yet again. JT ripped a two-run go-ahead double. Woo! Asher drove in Elias. Woooo! Bryce smacked an RBI single. WOOOOOO! Banks lined it nearly to the fence, scoring Bryce. WOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Gavin drove in Banks. WOOOOOOOO WOOOOOOO WOOOOOOO! Gavin stole second and went to third on an error, then scored on Chace's single. WOOOOOOO WOOOOO WOOOOOO WOOOOOO! Ben blasted an RBI triple to finish the scoring. To summarize:
Wooo.
Wooo.
Wooo.
Score after four innings: WR 10U Blue 15, OBX 7

Fifth inning
Brady walked and went to second on a wild pitch. JT lined a one-out single and stole second. Asher drove in Brady. Bryce went walk-off for the second straight day, driving in JT.
Score after five innings: WR 10U Blue 17, OBX 7

Pitching Performances
Chace pitched a hitless first two innings, allowing just one ball out of the infield.

Brady worked a perfect third inning.

Bryce and Banks got some key outs in relief in the fourth, and then Banks closed it out in the fifth.

Championship Web Gems

• Chace made two plays off the pitcher's mound in the first inning in retiring the top of the order 1-2-3.
• Joe made a nice play on a sinking liner to left in the third.
• Andrew made a couple good stops at third base in the fifth, getting one force at second and another across the diamond at first.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
OBX	0	0	0	7	0	X	7	4
WR 10U Blue	4	3	0	8	2	X	17	16