Top Gun Summer State Championship Semifinal: WR 10U Blue 14, WR 10U Red 3

Some very familiar faces showed up in the day’s second game, as the opponent was the second-seeded West Raleigh Red team. But first, Blue had to kill a little time between games. The object of this game was very simple: the goal was not to move. Really, that’s the complete set of rules. Coach Regan is a very harsh referee.

The game also marked the debut of 10U Blue’s very own fan, a Hardy-Built creation that was the envy of opposing teams and umpires alike.

“Does that fan shoot mist?” asked one opposing coach. “Not yet,” felt like the appropriate answer, since there’s no telling what might happen between now and next weekend.

Blue put three quick first-inning runs on the board, then led 4-1 going into the fourth. Coach Sean asked for seven runs. They decided to score ten instead. Fourteen hitters came to the plate in the fourth, putting together four hits to go with four walks and a handful of errors as Blue broke the game wide open.

The victory sent 10U Blue on to the championship game, a third straight game on a sweltering day.

Semifinal WR 10U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Gavin worked a one-out walk, then stole second. He went to third on a fielder’s choice, then scored on a wild pitch. Andrew smacked a two-out double, stole third, and scored on an error by the catcher. Banks singled, stole second and third, then scored on an error by the catcher.  

Score after one-half inning: WR 10U Blue 3, WR 10U Red 0

Third inning

Some really complex scoring in this inning: Gavin homered.

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

Fourth inning

The second-biggest offensive inning of the summer started with one out, as Ben walked. He stole second, then hustled around to score on Brady’s fielder’s choice. JT walked and stole second. Colin went through the right side to score Brady. Joe singled home a pair. A wild pitch moved him to third, and he scored on Asher’s single. Asher stole second, went to third on Bryce’s single, and scored on a wild pitch. Bryce stole second and scored on a pair of wild pitches. Gavin and Chace walked. A fielder’s choice from Andrew scored a pair. Andrew stole second, then hustled all the way home on a fielder’s choice from Banks.

Score after three and a half innings: WR 10U Blue 14, WR 10U Red 1




Pitching Performances

Chace started and fired two scoreless innings, including a pair of strikeouts.

Andrew tossed a hitless third.

Joe fought through the fourth and left the bases loaded with some big pitches.

Semifinal Web Gems

•   In a first and third situation, Asher made a snap throw to Chace on the mound, who made a quick relay to Bryce at third base, who slapped on the tag to get a big momentum-killing out.

•   Gavin dashed in to make the catch on a pop up that looked like it might fall just over the pitcher’s mound.

•   Andrew, Colin and Ben teamed up on a sweet double play in the third. With runners on first and second, the hitter dropped down a bunt. Andrew came off the mound to field it and threw to Colin covering first, where the out was recorded. But the overambitious runner tried to round third and score, not counting on the fact that Colin was going to fire to Ben at the plate for the rare 1-4-2 double play.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
WR 10U Blue	3	0	1	10	X	X	14	8
WR 10U Red	0	0	1	2	X	X	3	5