Sunday, September 11, 2016

Battle for the Bats semifinals: Canes 12, Dirtbags 4

The Canes met the Dirtbags for the second straight day at The Tart in Dunn, this time coming away with a 12-4 win in a game shortened to five innings. Three different Canes pitchers combined on the mound, and the offense banged out another 14 hits, making it 37 hits in three games. Five of those hits in Sunday's first game went for extra bases, including four triples. 

The win moved the Canes into the Battle for the Bats championship game against the winner of the Kernersville Bulldogs-Durham Indians matchup that apparently was played in the Central time zone or something. Here's what you're missing during the scintillating between-games waiting period:


That's right, a water bottle-flip tournament. The fun never stops.

Semifinal Canes scoring plays
First inning
Drew singled home Jake, who had singled, and stole second. He went to third on an error by the catcher and scored on a wild pitch. Ashton walked, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Andrew's triple.
Score after one inning: Canes 3, Dirtbags 0

Second inning
Asher singled and scored on Bryce's triple. Jake walked and stole second. Drew singled home a pair.
Score after two innings: Canes 6, Dirtbags 1

Third inning
Ben lined a one-out double, then scored on a pair of wild pitches.
Score after three innings: Canes 7, Dirtbags 2

Fifth inning
Drew and Chace hit back-to-back skillets (see below) that went for three bases apiece. Chace scored on a wild pitch. Brady reached on a shot through the left side. Andrew also went through the left side. Ben singled home a pair. Jake went walkoff by beating out an infield single.
Score after four innings: Canes 12, Dirtbags 4

Pitching Performances
Andrew went three strong innings to start, allowing zero walks.

Colin tossed an inning of relief against the meat of the order.

JT went 1-2-3 in the fifth.

Dugout wisdom
This is the rarest form of wisdom--umpire wisdom. After Drew cracked a single and then took second on the throw in the second, Coach Kevin went out to retrieve Drew's various body armor. After Drew took off about six pieces of equipment, Coach Kevin jokingly asked, "Got anything else I can take for you?"

The base umpire happened to be standing there. "Hey, man," he said to Drew. "Don't let him mess with you. You're hitting skillets."

Semifinal Web Gems
  • JT hosed out a runner trying to steal second base in the third, with Chace slapping down the tag.
  • Not exactly sure how, other than I think maybe another infielder put the runner in a sleeper hold, but the Canes picked up a double play on a pop fly to Brady at first base. Jake covered first to receive the throw.
  • While pitching, JT stayed with a hard grounder that hopped high off the mound, chased it down, and threw to Brady at first for the out.
Semifinal line score
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
Dirtbags
0
1
1
2
0
X
4
6
Canes
3
3
1
0
5
X
12

14

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