Nations (Snow Hill) Game 2: WR 9U Blue 17, Washington All Stars 1

I guess there is a possibility that you came here to read the recap of what happened in 9U Blue’s 17-1 win over the Washington All-Stars in the second game of Saturday’s tournament action in Snow Hill. And if you really need the specifics, the details are below.

But this was one of the rare times that West Raleigh didn’t play back to back games, and that left most everyone with a couple of hours to kill. And any time you give this particular cast of characters two hours of down time, hijinks are certain to occur.

When you give 9U Blue players a two-hour break from playing baseball games, you can be pretty sure they will use the time…playing baseball:

Meanwhile, GM Giovanna was very excited that the North Wake Thunder had music playing during their game. This is her showing where her daughters get all that dancing talent with a stirring performance to the DJ Khaled masterpiece “All I Do Is Win”:

While all this merriment was occurring, the coaching staff was working as hard as possible. Coach Sean practiced for his evening shift as a pizza delivery boy:

Which seemed to take a lot out of him. When other teams talk about how well paid the West Raleigh coaches are, just remember how well deserved it is. After all, here's a typical game day for the 9U Blue braintrust:

Here is Coach Kevin either taking care of a very problematic toothache or demonstrating the newest way to wear the Frogg Togg:

Here’s a shot of West Raleigh’s two biggest fashionistas demonstrating the “pockets hanging out of shorts trend” that is apparently a hot trend right now (don't feel bad, I didn't know about it either). Or at least it used to be a hot trend until people see how it looks on Coach Kevin:

All in all, a fun day in Snow Hill. And it’s still pretty cool when the kids like each other enough that when there’s a pitching change with the bases loaded, they want to go hang out together at second base while the new pitcher warms up:

Or maybe they were just talking about how crazy their parents are.

Game 2 Blue scoring plays

First inning

Bryce walked and moved to second on Elias’ single. Gavin singled to load the bases. Chace walked, scoring the game’s first run. Banks singled, scoring Eli and Gavin. Brady ripped a single that scored Banks, and then moved up to second when the ball was misplayed. Brady moved to third on a fielder’s choice and then scored on a wild pitch.

Score after one-half inning: WR Blue 9U 6, Washington 0

Second inning

The biggest inning of the season so far started with a one-out walk to Asher. Two more walks, to Bryce and Eli, loaded the bases. Then, on the very next pitch after a pitching change, Gavin took the new hurler deep over the right-center field fence for a grand slam—the first over the fence home run of the kid pitch era and the first over the fence home run in this group’s three summers of all-star play. With the bases clear, Chace (obviously) was hit by a pitch. Banks reached on a shot to first. Brady crushed an RBI double. JT collected a two-run single. Jake singled, putting runners at first and second. Andrew walked, loading the bases. With two outs, Joey and Asher drew back to back RBI walks, and then Bryce hit an RBI single before Coach Sean “mistakenly” grabbed Joey for coach interference to end the inning.

Score after one and a half innings: WR Blue 9U 16, Washington 0

Third inning

Elias led off by being hit by the pitch. Chace’s one-out single moved him to second. Everyone was safe on Brady’s grounder to short, and then JT singled in Elias.

Score after two and a half innings: WR Blue 9U 17, Washington 0




Pitching Performances

Jake pitched a hitless first.

Bryce threw a hitless second.

Gavin struck out one in the third.

Game 2 Web Gems

•    With runners on first and third in the first and two outs in the first, Asher came out firing from behind the plate and threw a rocket to Gavin, who easily slapped the tag on the runner trying to steal second before the runner from third could cross the plate.

•    Jake made a nice play staying down on a short hop at first base to get the unassisted putout leading off the second.

•    Playing second base, JT ranged up the middle with a man on first and one out. He gobbled up the grounder, took it himself to get the force at second, then made a strong throw to Jake at first to complete the inning-ending double play.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
9U Blue	6	10	1	X	X	X	17	11
Washington	0	0	1	X	X	X	1	1