Weekend recap: AAU Summer Championship (Clemmons)

The recaps from this past weekend's action can be found here, but here's a look at some of the key stats and trends from the weekend:

• West Raleigh outscored the opposition by a cumulative total of 49-12, slightly off last weekend's pace of 64-11.
• West Raleigh outhit the opposition by a cumulative total of 64-27, slightly off last weekend's pace of 77-29.
• Part of the offensive dip was due to a different set of rules. The first weekend's tournament was Top Gun, which meant all games went the full six innings. But this weekend's tournament was AAU, so 8U Blue played just eight total innings on Saturday (rather than the full 12). But part of the offensive dip was also due to better defenses faced on Sunday and a handful of popups rather than line drives--a trend that was worked on in practice Monday night at TPA (while it poured rain outside, making it very nice to have the indoor facility).
• West Raleigh didn't have a game in Clemmons in which every batter recorded a hit. There were just two three-hit games by individuals.
• The percentage of working scoreboards in Clemmons (100%) was greater by approximately 100% than anywhere else 8U Blue has ever played before.
• Overall, 8U Blue hitters had a cumulative batting average of .560 in Clemmons, up from the first weekend's .550. The team slugging percentage, however, decreased from .714 in Cary to .707 in Clemmons.
• The four scoreless innings in the game against the DC Bomb Squad on Sunday were equal to the total number of scoreless innings in last weekend's tournament in Cary. Overall, 8U Blue had eight scoreless innings in Clemmons.
• Defense was inconsistent. 8U Blue committed just one error in the two games on Saturday. But on Sunday, seven errors were made in the two games. That made the weekend total of eight equal to last weekend's total.

Let's take a look at the points of emphasis we listed last week to see how the results looked this weekend:

1. Decrease the errors and have zero innings with multiple errors.

 Still needs some work. The total errors did not decrease and there were two innings with multiple errors.

2. Put the ball in play in every at-bat.

Almost. Even with the machine firing the ball high on occasion, there was just one strikeout in 116 at-bats.

3. Zero scoreless innings.

This is going to be a tough one to ever achieve, but it didn't happen in Clemmons.

4. Get more comfortable with aggressive baserunning.

This one can be checked off the list. 8U Blue even got a compliment from the field umpire on Saturday, who was impressed with their baserunning. Taking the extra base was big in the win over the Bomb Squad, as during the fourth-inning rally, six different hitters turned what would've been a one-base hit into at least two bases with their hustle on the basepaths.

5. Increase funds for Coach Regan's salary.

Now that she is also a math tutor, she's pretty much guaranteed we'll never be able to pay her what she is worth.

So, with two tournaments completed, here's a look at some points of emphasis for the Wilmington tournament this weekend:

• More consistent outfield play, especially on ground balls and line drives to the outfield. 8U Blue has played very well on fly balls so far and will continue to work on one-hoppers and rounding into balls in the gap.
• Increase the team batting average from .560 in Clemmons to at least .575 in Wilmington. The plan to do this began last night at TPA, with a focus on not pulling off the ball and hitting straight through it to produce line drives rather than pop flies.
• Decrease the errors and have zero innings with multiple errors. This is a carryover from last weekend.
• Put the ball in play in every at-bat. The big barrel bats are permanently put away now, so everyone can get comfortable with the bats they'll be using in Cal Ripken play.
• Zero scoreless innings. It's good to have high goals, right?

The Wilmington tournament schedule will hopefully be out by Wednesday evening. The team has practice at West Raleigh on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at West Raleigh. All those practices are from 6-8 p.m., starting in the cage from 6-6:30.

AAU Summer Championship title game: WR 8U Blue 13, Carolina Shock 6

I'm sure you are probably wondering what such talented baseball players do to kill time in tournaments like this, where there is a lot of down time and waiting. If they have some good ideas, you might even consider stealing them for yourself, since the 8U Blue fan club has an equal amount of down time, but isn't provided with an arsenal of snacks, drinks, water sprayers and other toys.

Well, here's what 8U Blue did while waiting for Sunday's doubleheader: they answered math problems. And had a "not moving" contest.

Seriously, this really happened. Here's a photo of Coach Regan quizzing several players with her devious multi-part math problems:

Notice how into it the players are. Seriously, they REALLY liked the math problems. I don't have a photo of the "not moving" contest, but I can report that Gavin and Chace stayed completely immobile for over 15 minutes. That's not an exaggeration--we timed it. I realize none of this sounds especially fun when you read it, but at the time it was kind of entertaining. And let's be honest, what else did we have to do? And did you really think your 8-year-old son could stay completely quiet and still for 15 minutes? We truly do get to see them do the completely unexpected pretty much every single weekend.

Eventually, there were baseball games to be played. The day's final game was against the Carolina Shock for the AAU Summer Championship. 8U Blue had a fairly quick turnaround from the 7-6 walk-off win over the DC Bomb Squad, and they promptly had to battle back from a deficit again. This time, it was just 2-0, as the Shock plated a pair of runs in the top of the first.

This time, however, it didn't take the Blue offense as long to respond. They ripped off five runs in the first and seven more in the second to take control of the game, and eventually claimed a 13-6 victory that gave them the tournament title.

The game included an approximately 15-minute rain delay, some occasional confusion with the pitching machine (the Shock were doing coach pitch, but strangely, according to what we heard in Mooresville, this did not automatically enable them to win the game) and an umpire who accused Bryce of trying to steal his girlfriend (this actually happened).

The end result, however, was a second tournament championship in as many weekends:

Players indicated that the championship was for Coach Bruce, even firing off an, "I say Coach/You say Bruce!" cheer in the final inning. Coach Bruce's whereabouts were undetermined, but he was believed to be at a potty convention.

West Raleigh celebrated with their usual wild abandon, as indicated by this paparazzi photo from a certain photographer who was on I-40 on the way home:

Practice is slated for Monday night. With uncertain timing and weather, stay tuned for more details.

Championship Game 8U Blue scoring plays
First inning
Bryce led off the game with a hard shot to shortstop. With two down, he was still on first. But 8U Blue posted five two-out runs, starting when Chace singled Bryce to second. Jake drove an RBI single to center, and then Chace raced around to score when the throw was errant. Joey collected an RBI single, and then Ben's single to left couldn't be handled cleanly, allowing Joey to race around and score and Ben to go all the way to third. Mason scored him with a single to left.
Score after one inning: 8U Blue 5, Shock 2

Second inning
Once again, the leadoff man reached--this time, it was Carter with a single. With one out, Asher dropped a bunt single that put runners on first and second. Bryce slashed an RBI single to left that was the beginning of a parade of RBI hits. Before it was over, JT (triple scored two), Gavin (double), Chace (double), Jake (single) and Joey (single) all drove in runs on the way to West Raleigh's only run-rule inning of the game, a seven-spot in the second.
Score after two innings: 8U Blue 12, Shock 2

Fifth inning
Gavin led off by smoking a triple to right. Chace scored him with a sacrifice fly to left center.
Score after five innings: 8U Blue 13, Shock 6

Championship Game Web Gems

• Carter made a nice play on a line drive to left field with one out and one on in the third.
• In a quirky play that ended the fourth, the Shock tallied a run on an overthrow in the West Raleigh infield. But Chace made sure the damage wouldn't be worse, as he chased down the errant throw behind first and hustled it back into the infield, where the runner had been too aggressive rounding first. Chace applied the tag to end the inning and prevent further damage.
• Bryce made a nice play ranging up the middle to field a pop fly with two outs and one on in the fifth.
• West Raleigh ended the game in style. With a runner on first and one out in the sixth, JT snared a rocket at third base, then threw to Carter at first to double off the runner and seal the win.

Championship game line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Carolina Shock	2	0	0	1	3	0	6	13
WR 8U Blue	5	7	0	0	1	X	13	16

AAU Summer Championship Game 3: WR 8U Blue 7, DC Bomb Squad 6

Through three innings against the DC Bomb Squad in Sunday's first game in Clemmons, West Raleigh had sent just 11 hitters to the plate, recorded just three base hits, and hadn't even had a runner as far as third base. The three straight scoreless innings were the first time 8U Blue had been kept off the scoreboard for such an extended period of time this summer, and the offense was coming off a 1-2-3 third inning in which they didn't get the ball out of the infield.

Meanwhile, the Bomb Squad had scored two quick runs in the second and added a third run in the third. The 3-0 deficit after three innings was the biggest deficit 8U Blue has faced at the end of an inning this season.

So, yeah, things looked a little grim on the sweltering Clemmons turf.

But without much comeback experience to draw upon--OK, without any real comeback experience to draw upon--8U Blue mounted a furious six-run fourth-inning rally, totally changing the momentum and seizing control of the game...for about an inning.

The Bomb Squad took advantage of some unusual West Raleigh defensive hiccups in the top of the sixth to tie the game, but as soon as it looked like the defensive wizardry had deserted 8U Blue they found it again, and got a timely double play that enabled them to remain tied and need just a single run in the bottom of the sixth (coincidentally, it should be noted that Coach Sean had craftily won the coin toss and elected to be home team to set up exactly this scenario).

It didn't take long to get that run, as Gavin and Chace reached and then Jake ended the game with a walk-off line drive to right-center that sent his teammates spilling out of the dugout to meet Gavin as he crossed the plate with the winning run.

The victory moved 8U Blue to 3-0 on the weekend and sent them to the championship game in a rematch against the Shock and their head coach, Earl Weaver.

Game 3 8U Blue scoring plays
Fourth inning
Here's the game of baseball for you--after the first three innings, in which 8U Blue went scoreless despite peppering the outfield with deep shots, all of which were caught by the Bomb Squad defense, the offense kicked into gear with a ball that was hit about five feet. That's the approximate distance of Asher's leadoff bunt, and when the throw to first was late and fired into right field, he took second. Bryce drove him home with a single and then advanced to second on an outfield error. JT cracked an opposite field single and took second on the throw to the plate, which was late. Gavin blasted an RBI double to center. Chace hit an RBI single and moved up to second on the throw. Jake ripped an RBI single and likewise moved to second on the throw. In the end, West Raleigh scored five runs and registered six hits before the first out was recorded. But that wasn't all, as Ben smoked an RBI single to the left side that scored Jake.
Score after four innings: 8U Blue 6, Bomb Squad 3

Sixth inning
Needing just one run to win the game, Gavin led off with a deep double to center. Chace ripped a single to third base that was hit so hard that Gavin couldn't advance. But Jake made sure it didn't matter, as on the second pitch of his at-bat he crushed a single into right that scored Gavin with the winning run.
Score after six innings: 8U Blue 7, Bomb Squad 6

Game 3 Web Gems

• With runners on first and second and the Bomb Squad having already pushed two runs across in the second, Bryce made a nice play backing up on a pop fly behind second base to end the inning.
• Playing on the turf in Clemmons, JT made a solid play on a tough hop at third base against the leadoff man in the third, then threw to Chace at first to retire the hitter.
• Give the coaching staff, plus Coach Chris, a web gem in the fourth. With runners on second and third and no outs, 8U Blue had to work out of a tough spot while already trailing 3-0. Chace picked up one out on a pop fly to first. Then, with one down, the hitter lifted a fly ball to right, where Carter gathered it in. But the excitement was just beginning, as the runner on third base got a little overeager and left early. He did cross the plate, and then some adventures in the infield allowed the trail runner to also cross. But 8U Blue appealed the first runner leaving early, and the umpires agreed, turning it into a double play and erasing both runners.
• After a game when the defense had some uncharacteristic struggles, the last defensive inning still included a sweet defensive play. With the go-ahead run on second base, the batter slapped a grounder to Gavin at shortstop. He froze the runner and fired to Chace. Around the time Gavin released the throw, the runner broke for third. But Chace came firing off the bag after getting the out, threw a rocket to JT at third, and JT slapped the tag on for the unconventional 6-3-5 double play that cleared the bases and gave a little momentum back to West Raleigh.  

Game 3 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
DC Bomb Squad	0	2	1	0	0	3	6	11
WR 8U Blue	0	0	0	6	0	1	7	14

AAU Summer Championship Game 2: WR 8U Blue 14, Carolina Shock 0

8U Blue received probably their highest praise of the season from Coach Sean following Saturday's 14-0 win over the Carolina Shock.

"You guys were awesome today," he told them. "Not because of the way you hit the ball or your defense, but because of your mental toughness."

That's because the Shock played excellent defense in the first two innings, holding 8U Blue scoreless in back-to-back frames for the first time this season, and also marking the first time this summer that 8U Blue had multiple scoreless innings in the same game.

"But you guys didn't get down," Coach Sean told them. "You could have been panicked, but you knew eventually we would get them, and that's the way you played."

The offense rumbled to life in the third, plating three runs, and then exploded in the fourth and fifth. That enabled the 8Us to get an extra ten minutes or so of pool time--really the most important part of any trip--by ending the game an inning early.

While outscoring two opponents 29-0, the story of the day was really the West Raleigh defense. They allowed just three hits in the two games combined, and did not allow a runner to reach third base in any of their eight defensive innings. Just one opposing runner reached second base in the two games, and that was in the first inning of the first game. 8U Blue made just one error combined in the two games.

One game remains in pool play, which will be played (ALLEGEDLY) at 3 p.m. Sunday. That game will lead into a 4:30 matchup in either the consolation or championship games.

Game 2 8U Blue scoring plays
Third inning
After a lengthy scoring drought--two whole innings--the offense cranked up in the third. Carter and Andrew rapped back-to-back singles. Asher dropped down a sacrifice bunt, which must have had some especially intimidating power, because Carter came all the way around to score from second. Bryce singled, moving Andrew to third, and then JT lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center. Gavin singled in Bryce for the third and final run of the inning.
Score after two and a half innings: 8U Blue 3, Shock 0

Fourth inning
Joey led off with a single--the leadoff men were quietly a key storyline, as the 8U Blue leadoff hitter reached in all eight offensive innings on Saturday--and took second when Ben's hard shot to third wasn't fielded. With one out, Elias cranked a two-run double. Carter went through shortstop, and then Andrew singled in Elias. Asher used the ol' rope-a-dope fake-a-bunt-then-hit-it-over-the-third-baseman's-head play to score Carter with the final run of the inning.
Score after three and a half innings: 8U Blue 7, Shock 0

Fifth inning
Gavin led off with a double to left. Chace's shot to third was too hot to handle and Gavin scored. Jake crushed an RBI triple and scored on Joey's single, with Joey moving up to second on an outfield error. Ben drove an RBI single. Mason singled to reignite the offense, putting runners on first and second. With one out, Carter singled up the middle and took second on the throw. Andrew lined a hard sacrifice fly to left. Asher popped it off the glove of the first baseman, scoring Carter and invoking the seven-run rule.
Score after four and a half innings: 8U Blue 14, Shock 0

Game 2 Web Gems

• Bryce was kind of a ball hog in the first inning, getting all three outs in 1-2-3 order at second base. He fielded a grounder and threw to first, caught a pop fly and then snagged another grounder and made another solid throw to end the inning.
• Ben made a great play up the middle at pitcher in the fourth, taking away a sure hit up the middle by spearing a sizzling grounder, then throwing to first for the out.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
WR 8U Blue	0	0	3	4	7	X	14	17
Shock	0	0	0	0	0	X	0	1

AAU Summer Championship Game 1: WR 8U Blue 15, Carolina Red Sox 0

Just a forewarning: this blog is being written at the hotel pool, which currently has the approximate volume level of a Justin Bieber concert and the approximate humidity of the Amazon jungle. So if it doesn't make any sense, blame the Hampton Inn.

Now that I've blamed everyone else, West Raleigh 8U Blue took a 15-0 three-inning victory in the opener of the AAU Summer Championship in Clemmons. The most exciting part of the game happened about ten minutes before first pitch--or about one hour and 30 minutes before the first pitch according to the schedule we had been given. As I leisurely pulled up to the field and began my pregame ritual, Coach Sean called. The call went something like this:

Coach Sean: "Where are you?"
Me: "Pulling up in the parking lot."
CS: "They say we're supposed to play in 10 minutes."
Me: "No we're not."
CS: "Yes we are."
Me: "No we're not."
CS: "Yes we are."

We now move forward three minutes later in the conversation, when I determined that he wasn't kidding. As it turns out, the tournament director had decided around lunchtime to make a change in the schedule. He alertly let everyone in the 8U field know about the change...except for good ol' West Raleigh Blue. Our 4:15 game had now become a 3:00 game, and it was approximately 2:50.

This turned out to be a very helpful lesson: warmups are actually overrated. Because with about ten minutes of light throwing and five minutes of infield (not more or less than five minutes, per the strict instructions of the umpire), Blue 8U went out and posted a mercy rule 15-run win. It's hard to provide many highlights from a three-inning game, but suffice it to say that 11 West Raleigh hitters had base hits, 10 different batters scored runs, and half the lineup had a multiple-hit game--again, this was in a three-inning game.

The victory moved 8U Blue to 1-0 in pool play and set up their second game, to be played at, uh, whatever time they told us to be there. Needless to say, no one went very far, just in case they suddenly decided to start the game.

Game 1 8U Blue scoring plays
First inning
Bryce and JT led off with back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and second. Gavin doubled to right-center, scoring Bryce. Chace singled home JT, and then Jake's bullet to right wasn't handled, with Gavin racing home.
Score after one inning: 8U Blue 3, Red Sox 0

Second inning
An impressive two-out rally led to the first run-limit inning of the weekend. Mason led off with a double to right and moved to third on a single by Elias. Asher's fielder's choice scored Mason. Then, with two outs, the offense really kicked into gear. Andrew beat out a fielder's choice to put runners on first and second. Bryce's single loaded the bases, and then JT drove in a pair with a single to right-center--and when the Red Sox threw home, JT aggressively took second. That put two runners in scoring position for Gavin, who promptly singled them both home and also hustled to second on the throw to the plate. Chace singled in Gavin, and then Jake ended the inning by blasting a triple to right-center that scored Chace and enacted the seven-run rule (at some point we will have a test on the various run rules and mercy rules in eight-year-old baseball tournaments).
Score after two innings: 8U Blue 10, Red Sox 0

Third inning
Joey and Ben went back-to-back with singles to open the inning. Mason came through with his second double of the day, scoring a pair and then taking third on the throw. With one out, Asher singled in Mason. Carter ripped a single to left that slipped through the left fielder, with Asher coming around to score and Carter racing all the way to third. With two outs, Bryce singled in Carter to end the game--the rare 15-0 walk-off--because of the mercy rule.
Score after three innings: 8U Blue 15, Red Sox 0

Game 1 Web Gems

• Despite the game being just three innings, Blue 8U still found time to turn in a web gem. In the top of the third, with just the third Red Sox runner of the game on first, Gavin went up the middle to grab a sinking liner that was headed for shallow center. Once he made the catch, he completed the double play with a solid throw to Chace at first.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Red Sox	0	0	0	X	X	X	0	2
WR 8U Blue	3	7	5	X	X	X	15	17