Summer NIT Game 2: WR 8U Blue 10, Rubber Arm Rockets 0

Sometimes I wonder what goes on in the stands during all these hours the fans have to pass at baseball games. Now, thanks to Coach/Paparazzi Regan, I know: you're all over there writing on yourselves.

After a short turnaround and a quick left-field pep talk, 8U Blue was back on the field against the Rubber Arm Rockets. This provided a very handy way to gauge your maturity. If you found out who we were playing and said, "OK, sounds good," you may actually be an adult. On the other hand, if you found out who we were playing, started giggling, and then spent 45 minutes of the ride to Greensboro coming up with possible uniform combinations for a team called the Rubber Arm Rockets, then you are...a Lucas.

It turned out that they did not actually have rubber arms, which was a little disappointing, especially for Harrison Ford, who had stopped by and kept saying something about a one-armed man.


After searching every warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and dog house, 8U Blue put up four quick runs in the first two innings and cruised to a 10-0 win in a game shortened to four innings by the mercy rule. The game included the first truly explosive offensive inning of the weekend, as West Raleigh sent 11 hitters to the plate in the fourth and scored six runs on eight hits.

The 8U Blue defense was again solid, playing an errorless four innings, which makes it three of the last six games that they have been completely error-free. The outfielders were even able to get some work in this one, as Andrew snagged a line drive in right-center and Carter had a nice backup at first base. The back-to-back shutouts are the first time in two summers together that this group has put up two consecutive zero-run defensive games.

The win and the zero runs allowed for the day gave 8U Blue the event's top seed and a spot in the 10:15 a.m. semifinal on Sunday, where the opponent is very likely to be 7U Blue. Reminder: Sunday's games are what is likely to be the one and only pink-out of this summer.

Game 2 8U Blue scoring plays
First inning
Bryce reached second on his leadoff shot through short. He moved to third on a fielder's choice and scored on Gavin's triple. Jake scored Gavin with an RBI groundout.
Score after one-half inning: 8U Blue 2, Rubber Arm 0

Second inning
JT led off with a single. That put him in position to score on Mason's triple to deep left, but only after Mason and JT nearly met on the basepaths so they could discuss their respective hitting strategies. Ben brought Mason home with an RBI groundout.
Score after one and a half innings: 8U Blue 4, Rubber Arm 0

Fourth inning
The bats finally came to life in the fourth, as 8U sent 11 hitters to the plate in building their biggest inning of the day.
Score after three and a half innings: 8U Blue 10, Rubber Arm 0

Game 2 Web Gems

• Bryce started the defensive half of the first inning by ranging to his right and making a leaping grab of a line drive that appeared ticketed to go up the middle.
• Carter hustled over to back up a throw to first in the third. When the throw got past the first baseman, Carter was there to scoop it up, saving what would've been an extra base.
• Asher was a ball hog in the fourth, making all three outs at pitcher, and ending the game on a line drive back to him that he turned into a game-ending double play by throwing to Elias at first to nab the overaggressive runner.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
WR 8U Blue	2	2	0	6	X	X	10	13
Rubber Arm Rockets	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	2