State Semifinals: WR 9U Blue 8, Southern Pitt 1

On a day of well-played, tight games at the Eastern North Carolina 9U state championship, West Raleigh 9U Blue cracked the game open late and defeated Southern Pitt, 8-1. The victory puts Blue in Monday night’s state championship game against North View—the same two teams that met for the area title two weeks ago.

There wasn’t much offense in Sunday night’s game (West Raleigh had a tournament-low six hits, tied for the lowest this summer against 9U competition), but Blue hitters capitalized on six walks over the final two innings to provide some insurance runs.

On the mound, meanwhile, West Raleigh pitchers were more stingy, facing a tough strike zone but still allowing zero free passes over the final two decisive innings.

“That was a good team,” Coach Sean told the players after the game. “You kept battling, and that is what we have to do to win games like that.”

To the semifinal victors went the traditional Eastern North Carolina spoils:

That's right: it's Bo time.

Semifinal Blue scoring plays

Third inning

Joey tripled, and then Elias and Asher walked to load the bases. A fielder’s choice retired Elias, but JT’s shot to the outfield wasn’t fielded cleanly and Asher motored around to score.

Score after three innings: WR Blue 9U 2, Southern Pitt 0

Fourth inning

A little two-out magic began with a single from Banks. Wild pitches moved him to third, and then he scored when Ben hustled out a grounder. Andrew and Asher walked to load the bases, and then Bryce walked to force in a run.

Score after four innings: WR Blue 9U 4, Southern Pitt 1

Fifth inning

Gavin and Chace walked, and a passed ball moved them both into scoring position. Back-to-back one-out singles from Jake and Banks scored a pair. Jake hustled home on Ben’s grounder. Andrew cranked a double that plated Banks.

Score after five innings: WR Blue 9U 8, Southern Pitt 1

Pitching Performances

Banks started and threw a scoreless three innings.

Chace relieved Jake and threw two scoreless innings.

Asher finished it up with a scoreless sixth.

Semifinal Web Gems

•    Chace ended the first by snaring a bullet of a line drive at first base, then stepping on first to double off the runner.

•    Then Chace decided he’d turn a different kind of double play in the fifth. As pitcher, he snagged another line drive, then calmly turned and tossed to Banks at first to double off yet another runner.

•    Just realized the header could’ve said “Chace Gems.” In the sixth, he made a nice backhanded stop of a grounder at first base. And come to think of it, in two of the six defensive innings, he was involved in all three outs—the first and the fifth.

Sunday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Southern Pitt	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	3
WR 9U Blue	0	0	2	2	4	X	8	6