Summer NIT Championship: WR 8U Blue 9, Carolina Red Sox 3

Baseball is a weird game. 8U Blue got 10 hits in the first inning in their first game of the day, stopping only due to the run limit. Then they went out and got 10 hits in the entire championship game against the Carolina Red Sox--but those 10 hits were enough, as West Raleigh earned the tournament championship (and rings!) with a 9-3 victory.

The win was especially important because 8U Blue had chosen to wear their pink shirts on Sunday.

They did this for one of two reasons:

1. The moms had been so nice to the dads on Father's Day, and the players wanted to reciprocate by showing their appreciation for all the hard work and support their moms give them.
2. Pink shirts are cool.

You decide which one you believe.

You can read about the big hits and big defensive plays below. But let's be honest: the highlight of the day was the postgame dance party. Full video below:





Championship 8U Blue scoring plays
Second inning
Jake led off with a double and moved to third on Andrew's single. Mason's sacrifice fly scored Jake.
Score after two innings: 8U Blue 1, Red Sox 0

Third inning
Asher led off with a single. After a fielder's choice and a flyout, 8U had Joey on first but two outs, facing a 2-1 deficit. Not content to stop there, they turned it into two runs, as Bryce came up with a big two-out hit down the third-base line and flew all the way around the bases to score himself after the ball was muffed in the outfield.
Score after three innings: 8U Blue 3, Red Sox 2

Fourth inning
Gavin reached on a ball through the right side. Chace doubled home Gavin. Jake toughed out a freak injury and after some ace work by the 8U Blue team medical staff, singled to right. Andrew lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center that scored Chace.
Score after four innings: 8U Blue 5, Red Sox 3

Fifth inning
West Raleigh finally cracked open the game in the fifth by doing something unusual--playing small ball. Ben skittered a single through the middle. Asher dropped down a bunt and Ben raced all the way to third, putting runners at the corners with nobody out. Joey lined an RBI single off the machine (note that "The Machine" is not just a nickname for Coach Bruce, who was doing the pitching--Joey actually hit it off the machine). Elias laid down a beautiful bunt and beat it out to load the bases. Bryce knocked a sacrifice fly to left--8U's third sacrifice fly of the game after having four sacrifice flies in the previous 19 games. JT beat out a ball to shortstop, scoring Joey and then allowing Elias to score when the throw was errant.
Score after five innings: 8U Blue 9, Red Sox 3

Championship Web Gems

• Jenn made a tough play look easy, playing a foul ball off the shade tent and catching it in the air while seated in her chair. Coach Sean looked over, yawned, and said, "Call me when you save a baby." It should be noted that this is Jenn's second career Web Gem.
• With a runner on first and one down in the second, the hitter slapped a shot back up the middle. Gavin ranged over from shortstop, gathered it into his glove, stepped on second, and then fired to Chace at first, who got the tag on the runner to complete the double play.
• With 8U holding on to a narrow 5-3 lead in the top of the fifth, the Red Sox put a man on first with one outs and the heart of the order due up. The hitter cracked a single to left, but Andrew came in hard, fielded it and threw to Bryce at second for the force, in a big momentum-turning play.

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