Nations (Snow Hill) Game 1: WR 9U Blue 15, Morehead City 0

For the first time in at least a year, Blue played in a Nations tournament on Saturday in Snow Hill. John celebrated the new environment by participating in Snow Hill Umpire Training:

His expertise was not needed, however, as 9U Blue needed just three innings to claim a 15-0 win over the Morehead City Mavericks. West Raleigh got solid pitching (zero hits allowed) and defense (zero errors committed) in the victory, and scored the 15 runs on just eight hits. 

Plus, they looked darn good. Saturday marked the game debut of the chrome helmets:

With the rare break between games, that left 9U Blue with approximately 90 minutes to kill. Fortunately, some of us know exactly what to do in Snow Hill when there is free time:

Yes, that was indeed the rare combination fruit/ice cream stand. We knew which one of those options to pick.

Game 1 Blue scoring plays

First inning

Asher led off with a walk and stole second. Eli’s single put runners at the corners. Gavin’s sacrifice fly scored the first run of the game and moved Eli all the way to third, where he scored on a wild pitch. Chace was hit by a pitch, and then Banks walked. A wild pitch moved the runners up, and then another wild pitch scored Chace. After a walk to Brady, Jake cracked a double that plated Banks. With two outs, Bryce’s sharp grounder to short scored Brady. Joey was hit by a pitch, Ben drew a bases loaded walk, and JT finished the scoring with an RBI single.

Score after one-half inning: WR Blue 9U 7, Morehead City 0

Second inning

Elias walked and Gavin dropped a single in behind him. Chace’s shot to shortstop eventually scored Eli and moved Gavin to third, but Chace was (dubiously) retired at second. Banks ripped an RBI single through the infield, and Brady followed with another single. A wild pitch moved up both runners, and then Jake drove in Banks. Wild pitches scored Brady and moved Jake all the way to third before he scored on Bryce’s grounder.

Score after one and a half innings: WR Blue 9U 12, Morehead City 0

Third inning

Ben singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on JT’s sharp double. Asher walked, and JT moved up a base on a wild pitch. Elias drove in Asher with a sacrifice fly. Gavin and Chace (yes, again) were hit by pitches, and Banks drove in the final run of the game.

Score after two and a half innings: WR Blue 9U 15, Morehead City 0




Pitching Performances

Andrew threw a hitless first.

Joey threw a hitless second.

Brady was right on the verge of his Coach Sean-mandated pitch limit but managed to get out of a 1-2-3 third inning with a heavy workload of four pitches.

Game 1 Web Gems

•    Nice play by Gavin in the hole at shortstop, which he then followed with a strong throw to first to retire the third hitter of the second inning.

•    Back to back good plays by Ben on the first two hitters of the third, which he coupled with good throws across the diamond.