USSSA (Sanford) Game 2: WR 9U Blue 9, Supper Optimist 10U 5

Saturday's first game in Sanford was played under pleasantly cloudy skies and relatively comfortable temperatures for the middle of June in North Carolina. Saturday's second game in Sanford was played on the same field, with 9U Blue occupying the same dugout, but somehow was approximately 98% more uncomfortable.

Things got a lot more comfortable when West Raleigh scored four quick runs in the top of the first, but Supper Optimist 10U responded with five in the bottom of the frame. But the 9U Blue bats bounced back with five runs over the third and fourth to earn a 9-5 win and a 2-0 record on the first (and only) day of pool play.

After Supper posted the five early runs, the West Raleigh pitchers went into lockdown mode, and did not allow a hit or a runner past third base over the final five innings. Just like in the day's first game, that helped limit the damage on the basepaths, as 9U club again stole more bases (and this time, the total figure was more than double) than their 10U opponent.

Here's an example of how difficult life is as a 9U Blue player. When Coach Sean met with the team after the game, the Shade Committee (John is the president of the Shade Committee, but he thought he was signing up for the "shady committee") actually brought over a tent for the team so they wouldn't have to endure the hardship of three minutes in the sun:

 
It turns out the real postgame festivities, however, took place elsewhere a few minutes later:

Just another hard day as a West Raleigh baseball player. Game times for Sunday are coming up later today.

Game 2 Blue scoring plays

First inning

Bryce led off with a single and stole second. He moved to third on Chace's single and scored on Banks' shot past second. Chace scored on a wild pitch. Brady brought Banks home with a two-out single. Jake plated Brady with another two-out single.

Score after one-half inning: WR 9U Blue 4, Supper Optimist 10U 0

Third inning
Bryce ripped a one-out single, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. JT walked and stole second. A balk scored Bryce. Gavin beat out a shot to third and stole second. Chace's single scored JT. Banks scored Gavin with a sacrifice fly. Chace alertly tagged up and went to third on the sac fly, which enabled him to score on a balk.
Score after two and a half innings: WR 9U Blue 8, Supper Optimist 10U 5

Fourth inning
Elias singled and stole second. A fielder's choice moved him to third, where he scored easily on Ben's double.
Score after three and a half innings: WR 9U Blue 9, Supper Optimist 10U 5

Pitching Performances
Joey worked out of some trouble in the first.

Chace threw three no-hit innings through the middle of the game.

Gavin closed it out with two scoreless innings.

Game 2 Web Gems

• Andrew cut off what could've very easily been a double in the right-center gap and limited the hitter to just a single in the first inning.
• Gavin picked up 9U Blue's second pickoff of the day in the fifth, as he caught the leadoff man leaning off first, with Chace applying the tag.
• Gavin raced over from pitcher and fielded what was essentially a swinging bunt down the third base line leading off the sixth and made a strong throw to first to get the out.
• Jake made a smooth leaping play on a line drive to right in the sixth.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
WR 9U Blue	4	0	4	1	0	0	9	10
SO 10U	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	5