Beast of the East Quarterfinals: MGBA Bulldogs 6, Canes 3

The Canes saw a 37-game winning streak come to an end as the defending champion in the Beast of the East, the MGBA Bulldogs (Ga.), fought back from an early 2-0 hole and won 6-3 in seven innings. The loss eliminated the Canes from the single-elimination bracket.

The game was highlighted by an outstanding pitching effort from Drew, who went six innings and gave up just three hits. The Bulldogs, a team that finished tied for fifth at last year's USSSA Elite World Series, went to a powerful righty pitcher in the second inning and he was equally terrific, at one point retiring 14 in a row, with only one of those 14 leaving the infield. 

The Canes managed just three hits in the game but once again kept it close with great defense. For the weekend, the Canes committed just two errors in four games.

Quarterfinal Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake walked and stole second. Gavin’s double scored him. Gavin tagged and went to third on Chace’s long fly to right. Drew’s sacrifice fly scored Gavin.

Score after one inning: Canes 2, MGBA 0

Seventh inning

Gavin started on second due to the tiebreaker and scored on Chace’s single.

Score after seven innings: MGBA 6, Canes 3

Pitching Performances

Drew was sensational while giving up just three hits in six innings and striking out seven.

Chace had to deal with the international tiebreaker in the seventh, and then Gavin closed it by getting the final two batters.

Dugout wisdom

During a particularly tense portion of the game, as the MGBA first base coach was sharing his various perils of wisdom with the Canes dugout, Coach Kevin II hit upon an ingenious strategy that often works with toddlers. “OK,” he said. “On the count of three, we’re all going to stop talking. 1-2-3…stop!”

It didn’t work, possibly because it was money time. But it was a worthy effort.

In the top of the third, Drew got two quick outs and then went 0-2 on the next batter. The 0-2 pitch was close but was called a ball. "ALL THAT HOLLERIN' AIN'T GOING TO MAKE HIM CALL IT A STRIKE!" our friend in the first-base coaches box told us. The next pitch was down the middle for strike three, and the batter was dutifully punched out by the home plate umpire. "Guess we didn't need to do any hollerin' on that one," JT observed.

Quarterfinal Web Gems

•   Andrew ran down a ball in deep center for a terrific play in the fourth.

•   JT crashed in and made a good scoop and throw to Chace at first for the last out of the fourth.

•   Drew bounced off the mound and snatched a bunt out of the air on the first base line in the fifth.

Quarterfinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R
MGBA	0	0	0	1	1	0	4	6
Canes	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	3