District Tournament Championship: WR 8U Blue 10, North Wake Rockets 5

I would like to suggest that all of you stand in as close proximity to Coach Hardy during the games as you possibly can. This will be good for your heart rate.

It seems that after the North Wake Rockets scored five runs in the top of the first inning in Tuesday night's district championship game, Coach Hardy--better known as Bryce's grandfather--turned to Coach Chris and said, "That's all they're going to get."

Now, wouldn't it have made you feel a little better if you had known that? It would really be nice if Coach Hardy and Coach Chris would share their insights with the class rather than being so secretive about them. As it turned out, they were exactly right, and 8U Blue proceeded to put 10 unanswered runs on the board while allowing just one North Wake runner past second base over the final five innings. The comeback gave West Raleigh the district title in a game played under the romantic lighting at The Factory.

As Coach Sean correctly pointed out after the game, the 5-0 deficit was the biggest deficit this team has faced this summer and the most ever that this particular group has faced against a team of the same age group.

But after making three errors in the top of the first to crack the door for the big inning, 8U Blue responded by scoring five runs of its own in the bottom of the frame, then tightening the defense and making just one inconsequential error over the final five innings. That gave the offense time to scratch out five more runs after the big first inning, providing some cushion and allowing the facility supervisors to prepare for their elaborate championship celebration. Their plans apparently consisted of shoving some medals and a plaque at Coach Sean and telling him to take care of it. That's exactly what he did, asking his team to take the field and serving as both head coach and tournament director:

The victory earns West Raleigh a spot in the state tournament in Laurinburg from July 5-7. More information on that event will be forthcoming. In the meantime, enjoy your 2013 district champions:

Championship 8U Blue scoring plays
First inning
With one out, JT singled the other way. Gavin singled to left, putting two on for Chace, who singled to right-center to drive in JT with the first Blue run. Chace moved up on the throw, putting runners at second and third for Jake, who demolished a double to right that scored a pair. Mason doubled straight down the left-field line to score Jake, then scored on Andrew's game-tying single.
Score after one eventful inning: 8U Blue 5, Rockets 5

Third inning
Gavin led off with a double to right, moved to second on Chace's fielder's choice, and scored on Jake's grounder to second.
Score after three innings: 8U Blue 6, Rockets 5

Fourth inning
Andrew and Ben led off with back-to-back singles. Elias dropped down the second of his three straight perfect bunts to load the bases. North Wake couldn't convert the force at home on Carter's grounder up the middle, scoring Andrew. Bryce picked up an RBI groundout, then JT's single through to center scored Elias.
Score after four innings: 8U Blue 9, Rockets 5

Fifth inning
Jake led off with a rocket to right that put him on second. Mason's grounder to the right side put runners at the corners. After solid baserunning by Mason and Jake avoided the double play on a liner to shortstop, Ben's one-out fielder's choice scored Jake.
Score after five innings: 8U Blue 10, Rockets 5

Championship Web Gems

• The 8U Blue defense got itself out of what had been an unfortunately eventful first inning by turning a sweet double play. With the bases loaded, five runs already in, and one out, Bryce fielded a sizzler to second, flipped to Gavin at second, who whipped the throw to Chace at first to complete the inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
• Chace somehow got his glove between the ball and the dirt on a hard shot back to first base that ended the second inning.
• With a runner on first, Gavin went deep in the hole at shortstop to field a grounder in the third, then threw to Bryce covering second to record the force.
• With runners on first and second and two down later in the third, Ben ran in and grabbed a shallow pop fly near his shoestrings in right-center.
• Chace made a nice play at first to grab a throw from Bryce and tag the runner a split second before the runner's foot hit the bag in the fourth.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
NW Rockets	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	12
WR 8U Blue	5	0	1	3	1	X	10	14