Battle for the Bats Game 2: Canes 10, Carolina Quick Strike 0

I would like to point out that someone told me a lie. After game one, I asked if I had time to go to Sunni Sky's between games. I was told by unnamed sources that I did not. As it turned out, since the game between our games lasted approximately six hours, I could've had a picnic at Sunni Sky's. Not that I am bitter.

Oh yeah, the baseball game. The Canes won, 10-0, in the rare battle with the Carolina Quick Strike that was not a nail-biter. Three Evoshield pitchers combined on the shutout, and the offense finished up a 23-hit day (in nine innings) with a solid performance. The game was shortened to four innings by the run rule and by the fact that even one single additional minute of baseball would have been excruciating.

The games took place at the Clarence Lee Tart Park, or as Dunn locals know it, "The Tart." Check out this shot of The Tart's home squad, the Dixie Darlings, plus an honorary Dixie Darling:

Although games are still ongoing, it seems fairly apparent the Canes will play Sunday at 2:45. Opponents and brackets will be determined later this evening.

Game 2 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Gavin walked. Drew walked to load the bases. Chace hit an RBI single. Gavin scored on a wild pitch.

Score after one inning: Canes 2, Quick Strike 0

Second inning

Brady singled. JT was hit by a pitch. Asher turned on an RBI single. Bryce knocked an RBI single.

Score after two innings: Canes 4, Quick Strike 0

Third inning
Chace reached on a shot through the right side, then stole second. A wild pitch put him on third. He scored on Eli's single, and Eli took second when the ball went through the left fielder. Colin's fielder's choice advanced Elias, who scored on JT's double. Asher singled home JT.
Score after three innings: Canes 7, Quick Strike 0

Fourth inning
Ben was hit by a pitch and stole second. Drew singled and stole second. Chace singled home Ben. Elias singled home Drew. Andrew ended it with an RBI single.
Score after four innings: Canes 10, Quick Strike 0

Pitching Performances

Ashton started and fired two shutout innings.

Drew and Gavin each tossed a shutout inning of relief.

Dugout wisdom
This wisdom actually comes from the Quick Strike dugout. According to a highly placed source, at one point, as the Quick Strike watched the Canes warm up, one of their players said, "Man, these guys are good."

"Yeah," said another player. "They remind me of Big Blue."

"Who's that?" the first player asked.

"We used to play them when we were like 10," came the reply. "They were really good."

Yeah, I think I've heard of them before. Those were some good-looking guys.

Game 2 Web Gems

• With a runner on third, great hustle by JT to retrieve a wild pitch before the runner could dash home. JT then chased the runner back and threw to Ben to get the out.
• Drew made a nice jumping play on a high hopper that almost got over the mound in the third.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Quick Strike	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	3
Canes	2	2	3	3	X	X	10	11