Top Gun Diamond Wars Quarterfinals: WR 10U Blue 16, Clippers 1

With it being Sunday, it was time for West Raleigh to bring out the much-rumored ringers for bracket play:

 That’s right. No messing around on Sunday this time. Play began at what was allegedly 2 p.m. but currently feels like three days ago with a game against the Clippers. In a pretty amazing feat, West Raleigh took a 16-1 win by invoking the 15-run rule after just two offensive innings.

The pitching duo of Joe and Elias combined to allow zero walks and the defense played three error-free innings behind them. The victory moved 10U Blue on to the semifinals against the Rubber Arm Rockets, who do not, in fact, have rubber arms.

Quarterfinal WR 10U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Bryce led off by reaching base and then went to third on a double from Banks. With one out, Chace walked. Ben cracked a one-out double that scored two. Brady walked, and then Andrew worked an RBI walk. Colin hit an RBI fielder’s choice. Joe smacked an RBI single. Asher walked. Bryce ripped a two-run single.

Score after one inning: WR 10U Blue 8, Clippers 1

Second inning

Gavin crushed a leadoff double and went to third on a balk. Chace hit an RBI single. Ben hit a second straight RBI double. A balk moved him to third. Andrew walked and stole second. Colin hit a two-run single. Joe brought in a run on a shot to the right side. Asher singled. Bryce singled. Banks hit an RBI fielder’s choice. Elias walked, and then JT hit an RBI single to finish the scoring.

Score after two innings: WR 10U Blue 16, Clippers 1

Pitching Performances

Joe started and went two strong innings, striking out three.

Elias finished it up by facing the minimum in the third.

Quarterfinal Web Gems

•   Nice job by Joe getting over to cover first on a grounder to Chace in the first inning. Chace made the flip and Joe tagged the bag for the out.

•   Joe and Chace teamed up again, this time on a pickoff at first base in the second inning.

•   Elias made a play from his knees, as he came off the pitcher’s mound to field a ground ball to the left side, then threw to first to get the final out of the game.

Quarterfinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Clippers	1	0	0	X	X	X	1	3
WR 10U Blue	8	8	X	X	X	X	16	11