Top Gun Zone Qualifier Game 1: Canes 11, Rivercats 1

Back at the home of Justin Beaver, the Canes opened the Top Gun Zone Qualifier (it "qualifies" you to use your "free berth" which is "free" as long as you "pay" to play in the "zone qualifier") with an 11-1 win over the Rivercats. The game was shortened to four innings by the run rule.

The good news is the quick game might've enabled the Canes to start the second game a little early. The bad news is the second opponent of the day was locked in a close one on a different field. That means the players had to entertain themselves, which is always dangerous:

As usual, though, it was the parents you have to worry about instead of the kids. Left with too much time on their hands, a few of the Canes fans got in a brawl with fans from another team concerning who exactly was bringing the most juice. Here's the aftermath:

You should see the other guys.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake walked, stole second, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on Andrew’s two-out single.

Score after one inning: Canes 1, Rivercats 0

Second inning

JT singled. Elias reached on a grounder to second (“MEG!”). Bryce beat out a fielder’s choice. Jake rapped an RBI single. Gavin lined a two-run single. A throwing error moved up both runners, and then Chace roped a two-run, two-out single.

Score after two innings: Canes 7, Rivercats 0

Third inning

Ben walked and went to second on a fielder’s choice. JT ripped an RBI double. Two straight fielder’s choices scored JT.  

Score after three innings: Canes 9, Rivercats 0

Fourth inning

Drew homered into the wilderness. Asher walked and went to third on Ben’s single. Brady ended it with an RBI walk-off single.

Score after four innings: Canes 11, Rivercats 1




Dugout wisdom

After Gavin hit a two-run single in the second inning to put the Canes up 4-0 in the second inning, the Rivercats convened a meeting of a coach and all nine players on the pitcher's mound. After a teammate asked, "What are they doing?" JT observed the scene on the field and said, "I think I scared them with my running."

Pitching Performances

Andrew started and was dominant through three innings, allowing just one hit (that he negated himself with a pickoff).

Asher, a fan favorite of the Rivercats (“Just throw the ball!”…whizz…”Strike three!”), needed 14 pitches to finish it up.

Game 1 Web Gems

•   Andrew flashed some quick feet on a pickoff move to Chace at first in the third inning, which was then followed by a slightly unique rundown that nevertheless ended in an out.

•   Overall, it was the first of two error-free games on the day for the Canes.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Rivercats	0	0	0	1	X	X	1	4
Canes	1	6	2	2	X	X	11	9