Yes, the bats are a little hot. The hitting must have resonated, because the fans of the hard-hitting, big barrel-wielding Wildcats were heard to yell, "Check their bats" of the thin-barrel 8U Blue hitters. Presumably, this is because they were so impressed by the hitting performance that they want to go to the store tomorrow and purchase similar bats, and were checking to see what kind they were. That's the only explanation that makes sense.
By the conclusion of the win, 8U Blue had been to the plate 16 times in this weekend's tournament, and had scored the run limit in 14 of those innings. The victory moved West Raleigh into the championship game against a familiar opponent, the North Wake Rockets.
Semifinal 8U Blue scoring plays
First inning
JT started his 4-for-4 day with a leadoff triple. Joey popped an RBI single off the machine. Gavin ripped a ground rule double under the fence in right-center. Chace powered a two-RBI single to left. Jake pulled an RBI single to right-center. After Carter's single, Mason went the other way for an RBI single, as West Raleigh sent just seven hitters to the plate to get the five-run limit.
Score after one inning: 8U Blue 5, Wildcats 0
Second inning
And then the 8U offense did themselves one better. This time, they needed just six batters to plate the five runs. Ben's liner to shortstop got through to lead off. Elias singled to left, putting runners on first and second. Asher singled back through the middle, scoring Ben. Andrew's single scored Elias. In his first at-bat of the weekend, Bryce cracked a two-run triple. JT scored Bryce with a single.
Score after two innings: 8U Blue 10, Wildcats 0
Third inning
Needing some variety, this time 8U Blue decided to get all of their five run limit with two outs. With Chace on first, Jake singled. Carter's single wasn't fielded cleanly, allowing both runners to score and Carter to move to second. Mason's single put runners at the corners. Ben singled home Carter. Elias singled, loading the bases. On his way to a four-RBI day, Asher doubled to finish the inning.
Score after three innings: 8U Blue 15, Wildcats 1
Fourth inning
With Bryce on first and one down, JT launched his second triple of the game, scoring Bryce. Joey drove home JT. Gavin put runners on first and second for Chace, who doubled home Joey. Jake drove home a pair with an opposite-field double.
Score after four innings: 8U Blue 20, Wildcats 5
Fifth inning
Carter and Mason started the inning with singles. Ben smacked an RBI single back through the middle. Elias singled through the left side, scoring Mason. Asher singled and brought in Ben. Andrew's single to left scored Elias, and after Bryce's single, JT singled to score Asher, as 8U Blue again hit the five-run limit without a single out.
Score after five innings: 8U Blue 25, Wildcats 5
Semifinal Web Gems
- Playing shortstop on a very firm infield that produced some interesting hops all weekend, Gavin showed quick reflexes in snaring one that bounced much higher than expected in the first inning, then flipping to second for the force.
- Chace alertly tracked down an errant throw on the first batter of the second inning, then put the tag on an indecisive runner who had taken too big a turn.
- 8U Blue executed a perfect cutoff play on the next hitter, as the ball was driven to left-center for what looked like a possible single. But the runner tried to stretch it into a double, and Elias fired in to Gavin, who relayed to JT, who slapped down the tag to get the out.
- Two hitters later, Elias made a nice leaping grab in left-center to end the inning.
- The first double play of the weekend ended the third. JT caught a liner at third, then fired across the diamond to Chace at first base to double off a wandering runner.
- Playing pitcher, Andrew showed good reflexes to his right, scooped up a hot grounder, and threw to first to retire the leadoff man in the fourth inning.
- With the Wildcats mounting a rally in the sixth, Carter tracked down an errant throw at first, and alertly saw that the lead runner was steaming for home. Carter fired to Asher, who applied the tag at the plate for the first out of the inning.
| Semifinals line score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H |
| Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| WR 8U Blue | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | X | 25 | 32 |
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