Top Gun (Smithfield) Championship: WR 9U Blue 9, Rivercats 4

Although Sunday's gold bracket play was designed as a round-robin format, the way the schedule worked out meant that the 9U Blue-Rivercats game ended up being the de facto championship game. And it turned out to be a very well played game, and one of the very few comeback wins this group has experienced together.

In fact, when the Rivercats took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth, it marked just the third time in kid pitch that Blue had trailed in the final two innings (the others were the win over Rock Solid Red and the Ripken Experience game against the Levittown Adrenaline). But after a Rivercat pitching change, the West Raleigh bats finally came alive. The offense batted around in the fifth--they batted around at least once in three of the four games in Smithfield--and put up eight runs to seize the lead. The big inning wasn't just a matter of standing around waiting for walks; eight different batters picked up a hit in that frame alone. West Raleigh also proved resilient on Sunday, as five of their nine runs were scored with two outs.

That made Blue 2-0 when occupying a dugout filled with baby birds. Yes, if you're wondering what everyone was looking at in the corner of the dugout, it was this (thanks to Brady's grandfather for the photo):

The birds were very loud throughout the game, and kept saying things like, "DRIVE YOUR BACK SIDE" and "HIT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BALL." Also, the birds sounded a lot like Coach Sean.

Credit must be given to Jennifer Dail for the line of the day, however. At one point, some jerk I was complaining about how I didn't have cell service in Smithfield and therefore couldn't tweet about the games. Without missing a beat, she replied, "The birds don't seem to have trouble tweeting."

Maybe you had to be there. Trust me, it was funny.

The win gave 9U Blue their first tournament championship of the summer. And since a team photo wouldn't have been complete without JT, who was sick on Sunday, here's a shot from Saturday, featuring the snazzy new banner and a #RollCreed tribute:

Championship Blue scoring plays

Third inning

After being held hitless through two and a third innings, Asher picked up the first Blue hit with one down. Bryce ripped it past second, and then a wild pitch moved both runners up a base. With two outs, Chace came through with an RBI single, scoring Asher.

Score after three innings: Rivercats 2, WR 9U Blue 1

Fifth inning

Finally, the offensive floodgates opened. Elias worked a leadoff walk and Asher singled. With one out, Gavin doubled home Eli. That began a streak of four straight hitters who collected one RBI apiece and then ended up on second base—Gavin, Chace, Banks and Andrew all did the trick. With two outs, the parade continued with an RBI single from Brady, who then took second on the throw. Jake doubled to left center, bringing home Andrew and Brady, then scored on Joey’s double.

Score after five innings: WR 9U Blue 9, Rivercats 4

Pitching Performances

Banks started and went the first two innings.

Elias threw a scoreless third.

Asher wriggled out of the fourth.

Gavin struggled with control, but Chace came in and got out of the fifth, then blew through the sixth.

Championship Web Gems

• Bryce, Gavin and Chace teamed up on a lightning quick 4-6-3 double play in the second inning.
• Bryce stayed with a bad hop grounder in the third to cut off a runner at second base.
• Bryce made what might have been a game-saving play in the fourth. With runners on second and third and one out, Bryce went deep into the hole between first and second to stab a line drive, then flipped to Gavin at second to complete the inning-ending double play.
• Sweet scoop by Banks on a short-hop throw at first to retire the leadoff man in the sixth.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Rivercats	2	0	0	1	1	0	4	5
WR 9U Blue	0	0	1	0	8	X	9	10