Top Gun Summer State Championship Game 2: WR 10U Blue 23, NW Nitro 8

I'm not saying it was hot at Middle Creek, but here's Ben in-between games. Keep in mind this was at 10 a.m.:

Yes, that's a portable fan, Frogg Togg, shade and water. It was a little warm. That may have contributed to one of the most uncharacteristic efforts of the season for 10U Blue, as the bats continued to boom, but the defense suffered some very unusual struggles on the way to a 23-8 win over the North Wake Nitro in a game shortened to four innings by the run rule. 

The good news is West Raleigh started the game with a 12-run top of the first, the biggest offensive inning so far this year. Seventeen batters came to the plate in that half-inning, cranking out nine hits. That was the prelude for a game that also featured a pair of home runs--one by Gavin (his second of the day) and the first career four-bagger for JT, who needed all of five game at-bats after his return from injury to go yard.

The bad news is the big frame seemed to put the defense to sleep a little, and the Nitro tallied five runs in the bottom of the first. To put that into perspective, Blue allowed a total of six runs all of last weekend. But the pitching, overall, was actually more effective than last weekend's day-one efforts, as seven different 10U Blue pitchers combined to walk just two in seven innings.

The win sets up West Raleigh for bracket play tomorrow, with game times likely not available until later tonight.

Game 2 10U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Bryce reached on an error. Gavin doubled. A fielder's choice scored Bryce and put Gavin on third, where he scored on a wild pitch. Andrew walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Banks ripped it through the right side, scoring Andrew. Ben doubled. Brady singled home Banks, then stole second. Colin doubled home a pair. JT smacked a two-out RBI double. Asher doubled in JT. Elias scored Asher with a single. Bryce, batting for the second time, walked. Gavin singled in Elias. Chace dropped it into right to score Bryce. Andrew singled in Gavin.

Score after one-half inning: WR 10U Blue 12, NW Nitro 0

Second inning
Ben cranked a leadoff double. A wild pitch put him on third, where he scored on Brady's shot to right. Brady stole second and then hustled home on Colin's fielder's choice.
Score after one and a half innings: WR 10U Blue 14, NW Nitro 5

Third inning
Elias led off with a single. Bryce's double scored him, and then Bryce took third on the throw. Gavin singled home Bryce, then stole second, then went to third on an error by the catcher. Chace drove in Gavin. Andrew and Banks walked. Brady blasted a two-run double.
Score after two and a half innings: WR 10U Blue 20, NW Nitro 6

Fourth inning
JT showed that some guys really don't need that much practice by going yard for his first career homer. Elias was hit by a pitch, then stole second. Needing just a triple to have the cycle for the day, Gavin messed up everything by instead making the major mistake of hitting a two-run home run. Some guys just aren't coachable.
Score after three and a half innings: WR 10U Blue 23, NW Nitro 8

Pitching Performances
Joe pitched through some defensive issues in the first.

Brady worked through the top of the order in the second.

Asher got out of the third.

Gavin threw a 1-2-3 fourth.

Game 2 Web Gems

• Chace was a little faster than a lollygagger by reacting quickly to snag a bullet line drive in the first.
• Colin went into the left-center gap to make a running catch in the second.
• Colin showed good range to his left and made a nice play on a grounder in the hole in the third.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
WR 10U Blue	12	2	6	3	X	X	23	18
NW Nitro	5	1	2	0	X	X	8	6