Regionals Game 3: WR 9U Blue 18, North Brandon 1

Helpful tip for anyone about to play West Raleigh 9U: keep a close eye on the barometric pressure. For the second straight day, 9U Blue looked a little listless in the early going before a torrential rainstorm hit Palm Beach Gardens. And for the second straight day, that rainstorm seemed to ignite the offense, as this time West Raleigh scored 18 unanswered runs on the way to an 18-1 win over North Brandon, the runner-up in the very competitive South Florida state tournament.

Here was the scene in the first inning: North Brandon's pitcher didn't just drive to the game in the team van, he actually DROVE THE TEAM VAN to the game. West Raleigh went down 1-2-3 in the top of the first. Then the rain started, then the rain increased, then an ark floated by, then, with a North Brandon runner on second, the umpires decided perhaps it was getting a little wet.

As we've learned the last couple days, you have to find ways to amuse yourself during a rain delay. Coach Sean, for example, considered a possible new role:

The players, meanwhile, returned to the team van for a little air conditioning:

After a roughly 90-minute delay, play resumed under sunnier and much cooler skies. HA HA. Just kidding. It wasn't cooler at all. But it was sunnier, at least for a little bit.

North Brandon eventually scratched out a run, meaning West Raleigh trailed at the end of an inning for the first time in the regional. That could only mean one thing. That's right--it was time for the rally caps:

And it worked. And worked. And worked. Until eventually 9U Blue had reeled off 18 unanswered runs, batted around in two straight innings, and put up seven runs apiece in the third and fourth.

The rain delay scuttled plans for an afternoon beach trip, so the team somehow had to manage with only being introduced on the field before a professional baseball game. It's a difficult life, this West Raleigh baseball. And while some people from the group were watching the game...

Others were, uh...making new friends?

The single elimination Southeast Regional championship bracket begins Friday morning. As the top seed in the pool, West Raleigh will face Okeeheelee (FL) Friday at 11 a.m. The winner of that game advances to Saturday's semifinals.

Game 3 Blue scoring plays

Second inning

Chace led off with a double. Brady singled him to third, and then Jake's fielder's choice scored the first run of the game. A wild pitch scored Brady and gave West Raleigh the lead. Banks walked and stole second, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Joey walked, putting runners at the corners, and then the first and third play worked perfectly, with Banks scoring and Joey moving to second. With two outs, Bryce singled, and then JT drove in Joey with a single.

Score after one and one-half inning: WR 9U Blue 4, North Brandon 1

Third inning
With one out, Brady singled. He moved all the way to third on wild pitches, then scored on Andrew's ball in the infield. Banks and Joey drew back to back walks and Asher drove in Andrew. Bryce ripped an RBI single, and JT walked. With the bases loaded, Gavin cleared the bases and ended up on third after some adventurous throws in the infield. Chace mashed an RBI double.
Score after two and a half innings: WR 9U Blue 11, North Brandon 1

Fourth inning
Andrew led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a wild pitch. Ben walked and Joey was hit by a pitch, and then Asher's fly ball advanced both runners. Bryce singled in Ben. JT drove in a pair with a deep double. Gavin's shot to the left side scored JT, and Brady singled. Andrew collected his second double of the inning, this time driving in two.
Score after three and a half innings: WR 9U Blue 18, North Brandon 1

Pitching Performances
Joey relieved Jake and threw one and two-thirds great innings, burning through five straight hitters.

Asher pitched a scoreless third.

Gavin threw a scoreless fourth.

Game 3 Web Gems

• Gavin went deep in the hole to make a backhand play against the leadoff man in the second, then made a good throw to Chace for the out.
• Suitably inspired, on the very next hitter JT went to his backhand side to stab a grounder off the third base line, then made the strong throw to Chace for the second out.
• Then, to complete a full Web Gem inning, Gavin charged in on a piddler (Hi Jennifer!) to short, scooped it up, and made a smooth throw to finish off the 1-2-3 Web Gems.
• Bryce, JT and Chace teamed up on a sweet 4-6-3 double play in the fourth.

Thursday line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
WR 9U Blue	0	4	7	7	X	X	18	13
North Brandon	1	0	0	0	X	X	1	2