Top Gun Super State Game 1: WR 8U Blue 25, Raleigh Raptors 2

Coach Bruce was reported to be very happy to hear that 8U Blue would be playing virtually in his backyard, with the Top Gun Super State tournament scheduled for Thomas Brooks Park. But I didn't realize how happy he was until we left our house this morning and realized that evidently Coach Bruce had come all the way to Orange County to provide a personal escort to Cary. I especially like his personalized license plate:

Realizing his team would have to play without Coach Kevin (value: debatable) and Bryce (value: irreplaceable), plus the foul ball catching skills of Jennifer, Coach Sean knew he would have to do something spectacular during Saturday's pregame team meeting. Coach Kevin had requested that Coach Sean use Pregame Speech No. 461, which can be found in Coach Kevin's book entitled, "2,831 pregame speeches" and subtitled, "Things Biscuit Taught Me."

But Coach Sean went one better. He used Pregame Speech 461, and added his own special twist: a pregame dance party featuring 8U Blue's own Tiny Dancer, Asher:

The results of the dance: undeniable. 8U Blue went out and scored the five-run limit (well, the run rule sort of fluctuates depending on who is doing the interpretation) in every single inning, bludgeoning their way to a 25-2 win over the Raleigh Raptors. The homestanding West Raleigh squad pounded out a season-high 31 hits...a season high that wouldn't last very long. Ten different hitters scored at least two runs and ten different hitters had at least two hits.

The game was shortened to five innings due to the time limit, setting up West Raleigh's second game of pool play, against the North Wake Daredevils.

Game 1 8U Blue scoring plays
First inning
Got a snack? OK, here we go. JT led off with an opposite-field single. With one out, Gavin cracked a double. Chace picked up the first RBI of the day with a single, and then Jake drove in Gavin with a single. The last three runs came across with two outs. Carter's shot to third wasn't handled, scoring Chace, and then Mason--on his way to a monster (four doubles, five RBI) game--blasted a double to clear the bases and invoke the run rule.
Score after one inning: 8U Blue 5, Raptors 0

Second inning
With one out, Asher singled. He moved to third on Andrew's double. JT smacked a two-run double and moved to third when Joey's shot to the right side wasn't fielded. Gavin lined a single that scored both JT and Joey after some outfield misadventures. Chace singled, and then Jake's double plated Gavin to once again activate the run rule.
Score after two innings: 8U Blue 10, Raptors 0

Third inning
Once again, it started with one out. Carter singled and scored on Mason's double. Elias singled, putting runners at the corners. Asher's opposite field single scored Mason. Andrew singled to load the bases for JT, who promptly scored Elias with a single. Joey and Gavin picked up back-to-back RBI singles to send 8U Blue to the five-run limit for the third straight inning.
Score after three innings: 8U Blue 15, Raptors 0

Fourth inning
Chace led off with a single and ran to third on Jake's double. With one out, Carter drove in Chace with a single. Mason--stop me if this sounds familiar--doubled, scoring Jake. Elias's RBI single scored Carter and Asher drove in Mason with a single. Andrew's single loaded the bases again, and then JT's shot to shortstop scored Elias and ended the inning.
Score after four innings: 8U Blue 20, Raptors 1

Fifth inning
This time, 8U Blue recorded just one out while scoring their five runs on just eight batters. Joey led off with a single. Gavin hit a thunderous double deep to left-center. Chace's single drove in Joey. Jake blistered it through the right side to score Gavin and put runners on first and second. Carter's bullet on the left side wasn't fielded, allowing Chace to score. Mason (yawn) doubled yet again, driving in Jake, and then the last RBI of the game went to Elias on a single to left.
Score after five innings: 8U Blue 25, Raptors 2

Game 1 Web Gems

• With runners on first and second, Elias didn't take anything for granted in the first and backed up shortstop on a ground ball. That worked out well for him, because he was in position to scoop it up and fire to JT at second to get the force.
• 8U Blue got another force out from their outfielders in the second. With one down and a runner on first, the batter lined a shot to right-center. Andrew barehanded it and threw to JT at second to get the out.
• West Raleigh catchers recorded two outs on popups: Asher grabbed one in the second and Jake snagged one in the third.
• Gavin made a smooth play on a tough hopper to end the Raptor top of the fifth.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Raptors	0	0	0	1	1	X	2	4
WR 8U Blue	5	5	5	5	5	X	25	31