Area (Laurinburg) Game 1: WR 9U Blue 17, Hamlet 1

In the opening game of this weekend’s area tournament in Laurinburg, West Raleigh 9U Blue took a 17-1 win over Hamlet in four innings in a game that featured numerous exciting plays such as…zzzzzzzz.

Oh, sorry. In this game, because of a Ripken rule that allows only three dapper pants-wearing coaches to be in the dugout during the game, the blogger had to sit outside the dugout. And by sit outside the dugout, I mean sit in a setup that looked a little something like this:

So my attention might not have been quite as rapt as usual. It turns out there is a lot going on outside the dugout, what with the in-game wine and cheese presentations, the constantly having to remind the personal fan advisor to increase the tempo, and the incredibly difficult choices such as whether to put your feet up and recline or leave them on the ground. With tomorrow’s game being at 5 p.m., I am fully expecting that the setup will include an in-game dinner buffet, possibly including a ribeye steak and a couple of side dishes. Or at least some eastern North Carolina barbecue. I mean, we’re in Laurinburg.

Oh riiiiiight, you want to hear about the game. Until a Coach Sean defensive positioning error in the fourth inning, three West Raleigh pitchers combined on a no-hitter that eventually ended up being a one-hitter. Only one Hamlet runner advanced past second in a game that was also error-free defensively, and that was more than enough pitching and defense to support ten 9U Blue hits in three innings. Every spot in the order scored at least once, and nine different players had hits.

The highlight of the day was getting to catch up with Creed after the game:

The next game of the area tournament is Sunday at 5, with the winner advancing to Monday night’s championship game. Thanks to the Shady Committee (President: John Walsh/Seating Coordinator: Jennifer Dail/Grandfather Emeritus: Jim Lucas) for all their help today.

After the game, some of the day's heroes retired to an area hotel to recharge before Sunday's game. It was great to see all the youngsters having fun together while also taking their suitcases to the swimming pool? remaining very well hydrated and not at all giving in to peer pressure:

OOPS. WRONG PHOTO! HA HA! SCRATCH THAT! YOU KNOW HOW THESE DARN COMPUTERS ARE! MIND OF THEIR OWN!

Oh yeah, here's the right one:

Game 1 Blue scoring plays

Second inning

Jake opened the floodgates by reaching leading off the inning. A wild pitch moved Jake to second, and then Banks put runners at the corners with a hard shot. Jake scored the game’s first run on an error, and then Ben singled home Banks. Asher singled to put runners at the corners, then took second on the throw. A wild pitch scored Ben and moved Asher to third. Elias and Bryce picked up back to back walks. JT ripped a fielder’s choice that eventually scored two. Gavin singled home JT, then moved to second on a wild pitch. Chace singled home Gavin and took second on the throw. Brady reached on a hard grounder, then Chace scored and Brady moved up on an error. A wild pitch scored Brady with the inning’s final run.

Score after two innings: WR Blue 9U 8, Hamlet 0

Third inning

Elias walked and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. Joey walked. JT singled home Eli. Andrew singled home Joey. Chace’s single eventually brought in a pair. After a stolen base, Chace moved to third on Brady’s single and scored on an error. Jake advanced Brady to third. Banks dropped in a perfectly placed ball that scored Brady. With two outs, Asher walked, and then Eli’s single scored Jake. Joey finished the day’s scoring with an RBI single, and Coach Sean eventually ended the inning by finally running down Asher down the third base line and touching him to commit an egregious infraction for the third out of the inning.

Score after three innings: WR Blue 9U 17, Hamlet 1




Pitching Performances

Banks cruised through the first two innings, striking out five.

Jake hurled a hitless third.

Brady closed it out in a scoreless fourth.

Game 1 Web Gems

•    Banks and Chace worked the rare pickoff on a walk and nabbed the unsuspecting leadoff man in the second.

•    Probably a few too many throws, but West Raleigh eventually executed a rundown between first and second to end the third.

•    Brady sprinted off the mound towards the third base line and made a nice whirling throw to Jake at first to retire the leadoff man in the fourth.

•    Ben threw a laser to Andrew at second to cut down the final out of the game trying to steal second.

Saturday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Hamlet	0	0	1	0	X	X	1	1
WR 9U Blue	0	8	9	X	X	X	17	10