Diamond Wars Semifinals: WR 10U Blue 18, Rubber Arm Rockets 5

Next up was a semifinal matchup against the top-seeded Rubber Arm Rockets, who were coming off a 22-0 win on Saturday. After building a 4-2 lead in the third, West Raleigh exploded for back-to-back seven-run innings to take an 18-5 decision in a game limited to five innings.

The game featured a rarity, as 10U had the first scoreless inning of the weekend, a goose egg in the first. They still managed to pound out 14 hits and 18 runs for the game.

With it being the semifinals, Coach Sean had to bring in some overseas consultants for some in-game FaceTime advice:

Because 10U Blue does not have rollover minutes, we eventually had to cut off the connection with Coach Eric, and he set off to try and convert more British 10U fans:

@WR10UBlue Right of the Jet and into the WR UK Mobile! Tooting our Horn for 10u Blue! pic.twitter.com/7bPWZAdfOp

— Eric Chaplin (@HappyChappye) June 20, 2015

Unfortunately, there was no photo evidence of one of the game highlights, as Elias attempted to sit down in Coach Kevin’s tripod chair, only to discover that someone had pulled the chair away. Let’s put it this way: Eli landed in the exact same location where he was hit by a pitch a couple innings later.

The victory sent 10U Blue on to the title game, which was apparently scheduled to be played sometime Monday afternoon. The wait was so long that Coach Sean actually had Baker warm up to pitch just in case he was old enough to play 10U baseball by the time the game started:

Semifinal WR 10U Blue scoring plays

Second inning

Brady coaxed a one-out walk, went to second on a wild pitch, and stole third. Joe drove in a two-out run. Elias walked. Asher drove in Joe with a single.

Score after one and a half innings: WR 10U Blue 2, Rockets 0

Third inning

Banks singled and went to second on a miscue in the outfield. Chace launched a two-run home run.

Score after two and a half innings: WR 10U Blue 4, Rockets 0

Fourth inning

Joe got a leadoff walk and stole second. Elias was hit by a pitch. JT hit an RBI single. Colin singled. Banks brought in a run with an RBI fielder’s choice. Gavin hit a 2-0 pitch over the fence in left for a grand slam. Brady walked, stole second, went to third on a balk and scored on Andrew’s double.

Score after three and a half innings: WR 10U Blue 11, Rockets 2

Fifth inning

Elias walked and stole second. JT walked. Colin’s shot to the left side scored Elias. JT stole home, with Colin going to second. Banks walked. Gavin smoked an RBI single. Ben drove in Banks. Brady singled home Gavin. Andrew doubled home a pair.

Score after four and a half innings: WR 10U Blue 18, Rockets 2




Pitching Performances

Andrew was dominant in his three innings, which included striking out the side in the first inning with just 11 pitches.

Colin hurled a scoreless fourth.

Bryce closed it out with a flurry of strikes in the fifth.

Semifinal Web Gems

•   Ben and Gavin worked a perfect rundown to retire a runner off third in the third.

•   JT once again proved to be a ball magnet, as he went into the game in left field in the fourth and promptly had the sixth pitch hit to him. Of course, he made the play.

•   Joe and Ben teamed up to nab a runner off third in the fourth.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
WR 10U Blue	0	2	2	7	7	X	18	14
Rubber Arm Rockets	0	0	2	0	3	X	5	6