Regionals Semifinals: WR 8U Blue 8, Longwood (Fl.) 3

On a steamy Sunday morning in Varina, Virginia, 8U Blue moved into the Southeast Regional championship game with an 8-3 win over Longwood (Fl.).

Upon first seeing the bracket, it seemed a little unusual to play the semifinals at 10 a.m. It turned out to be wonderful timing, because the early start left less time to sit around the hotel and be nervous. I am speaking here, obviously, of the parents. To illustrate, here is a transcript of the conversation at breakfast at the hotel:

Me (inadvertently squeezing a banana into banana juice): "Grrmmffffiiiittttt."
Bryce: "Hey Coach Adam, I got the last sausage biscuit!!!"

The semifinal was a rematch of the very first game of thetournament, when 8U Blue had captured a 9-2 victory. This one was very similar to that one—three early West Raleigh runs, and then just enough offense and defense to keep the Florida team at arm’s length.

The win advanced West Raleigh into the Southeast Regional championship game. Four teams had started the morning—three from the state of Florida, plus West Raleigh. The title game would be against Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, which demolished what had been a very formidable-looking Julington Creek (Fla.) squad.

Semifinal 8U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Bryce led off with a hot shot to third, then moved to third on JT’s double. Gavin singled home Bryce, and then Chace ripped a shot past the third baseman that scored a pair.

Score after one inning: 8U Blue 3, Longwood 0

Third inning

Asher led off with a double to right-center. Bryce singled and hustled all the way to second. JT lifted a sacrifice fly, and then with two outs, Chace and Joey picked up two-out RBI singles.

Score after three innings: 8U Blue 6, Longwood 0

Fourth inning

Elias reached on a leadoff single, and then with two outs, Bryce ripped a perfectly placed shot down the right field line and hustled all the way around for an inside-the-park two-run home run.

Score after four innings: 8U Blue 8, Longwood 3

Semifinal Web Gems

• Elias set the defensive tone for the day by making a leaping catch on the third batter of the game, setting down the side in order in the top of the first.
• Leading just 3-0, Jake came up firing on a hard hit to right leading off the third. His throw to Chace was perfect, and 8U Blue retired a speedy leadoff man.
• With runners on first and second and nobody out, JT dove across the third-base line to snag a would-be double, then stepped on third for the out.
• With one out and runners on first and second in the fifth, the hitter smacked what looked like a single to left. But the runner going around third took a wide turn, and Joey fired a strike to JT, who slapped down the tag for a big second out.
• Chace turned in an incredible effort in the sixth, running all the way to the fence—almost through the fence—chasing a foul ball in the sixth.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Longwood	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	6
WR 8U Blue	3	0	3	2	0	X	8	11