Top Gun Super State Game 2: WR 8U Blue 27, NW Daredevils 1

If possible, the offensive performance in Saturday's second game might have been even more impressive than the game one fireworks. This time, 8U Blue posted a season-high in runs (27) and hits (32) on the way to a 27-1 victory over the North Wake Daredevils. For the fourth time in ten games this summer, every batter in the lineup had at least one hit, and 10 of the West Raleigh batters had at least two base hits.

The offense was unquestionably the story of the day, as 8U Blue hit a combined .724 in the two games, and very nearly had more extra-base hits (21) than hitless trips to the plate (24). The two teams West Raleigh defeated on Saturday had a combined eight hits; two West Raleigh hitters (Gavin and Chace) had eight hits apiece just by themselves.

Credit to Coach Bob for possibly the worst pitching performance of all time, as he gave up 52 runs and 63 hits in 11 innings while operating the pitching machine. The 63 combined hits in the two games are just one fewer than 8U Blue managed all of last weekend in Clemmons.

The undefeated mark in Saturday's pool play means 8U Blue earned the top seed in Sunday's gold bracket. They will take Thomas Brooks field 8 at 1:30 against the winner of the Northview Blue-7U Wildcats game. The winner of that game will be in the 3 p.m. championship contest, also on field 8.

Game 2 8U Blue scoring plays
First inning
Joey hit a one-out single. Gavin (4-for-4 with three doubles) drove him in with a double. Chace followed suit with another RBI double. Jake lined an RBI shot to right. The final RBI of the inning went to Carter on a one-out fielder's choice.
Score after one-half inning: 8U Blue 4, Daredevils 0

Second inning
The first run-rule inning of this game started with Asher reaching on a single. Runners moved to first and second on Andrew's drive to the left side. JT doubled home Asher, and then Andrew also scored when the ball wasn't handled cleanly. Joey singled, putting runners at the corners. Gavin's double plated JT, Chace's single scored Joey, and Jake's double scored Gavin.
Score after one and one-half innings: 8U Blue 9, Daredevils 0

Third inning
With Carter on first and one out, Mason lined a single that wasn't handled, allowing Carter to score and Mason to move to second. Elias powered it through the left side, scoring Mason. Asher singled to put two runners on, and then Andrew hit a towering double to left that scored Elias.
Score after two and a half innings: 8U Blue 14, Daredevils 0

Fourth inning
Gavin smoked a one-out single that turned into two bases after an outfield miscue. Chace singled him home. Jake singled, and then Ben's single scored Chace.
Score after three and a half innings: 8U Blue 16, Daredevils 0

Fifth inning
Elias led off with a perfectly placed double to left-center. He moved to third on a fielder's choice, then scored on Andrew's single. 8U Blue sent four more runners across with two outs. Joey singled, scoring Andrew. Gavin's double put runners at second and third. Chace (who had an impressive five-RBI game) scored a pair with a double to center, and then Jake finished the scoring with a line drive straight back up the middle that scored Chace.
Score after four and a half innings: 8U Blue 21, Daredevils 0

Sixth inning
The last offensive inning of the day might also have been the most impressive, as 8U Blue scored six runs while recording zero outs and sending only seven hitters to the plate. It began with a leadoff single from Ben that outfield issues turned into two bases. Carter's double scored Ben. Mason's single scored Carter. Elias reached on a single that sent runners to first and second, before Asher's single loaded the bases. Andrew drove in two more, for a game total of four RBI, with another long double to left. JT scored a pair with a hard single that invoked what had suddenly become a six-run limit instead of a five-run limit.
Score after five and a half innings: 8U Blue 27, Daredevils 1

Game 2 Web Gems

• Playing third base, Jake made an agile play to his left on the first hitter of the fourth inning. With the ball pounded into the dirt almost in the hole, Jake ranged over, gloved it, then made a strong throw to first base to easily get the runner.
• JT raced across the dirt in the outfield to gather a sinking liner in left-center in the fifth.
• With a runner on first later that same inning, JT continued his solid play in the outfield. He tracked down a ball hit over his head and fired to Gavin covering second for the force out--the third force recorded by an 8U Blue outfielder on the day.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
WR 8U Blue	4	5	5	2	5	6	27	32
NW Daredevils	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4