Summer World Series Quarterfinals: Dirtbags 11, Canes 9

A weekend of playing from behind finally bit the Canes, as the Dirtbags clubbed four home runs, including a grand slam, on the way to an 11-9 victory. Homers accounted for the 'Bags final nine runs of the game.

As was tradition during the Summer World Series, Evoshield played from behind throughout the afternoon. The Dirtbags led 7-4 going into the bottom of the third...and the Canes came back. The Dirtbags led 9-7 going into the bottom of the fourth...and the Canes came back. The Dirtbags led 11-9 going into the bottom of the fifth...and finally there wasn't enough offense left in the tank.

The Canes were outhit for the second straight game, making this the first time in the 12U season (both spring and fall) that they have been outhit in two consecutive games.

Quarterfinal Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake singled and Gavin belted a two-run homer. Drew and Chace singled. Bryce's fielder's choice scored Drew, and then Chace also hustled all the way around.
Score after one inning: Canes 4, Dirtbags 2

Third inning
Gavin laced a double. Drew drove him in with a single. Chace walked. Bryce drove in a pair with a single.
Score after three innings: Canes 7, Dirtbags 7

Fourth inning
Jake reached on an error and scored on Gavin's second two-run homer of the day.
Score after four innings: Canes 9, Dirtbags 9

Pitching Performances

Colin started and struck out the side in the first.

Gavin relieved and worked into the third.

Asher got two quick outs.

Drew got the final five outs, including a pair of strikeouts.

Dugout wisdom
The less said, the better.

Quarterfinal Web Gems

• Elias made what may have been a home run-saving catch at the fence in the fifth.

Quarterfinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Dirtbags	2	0	5	2	2	X	11	10
Canes	4	0	3	2	0	X	9	9

Summer World Series Game 4: Canes 12, East Coast Clippers 11

The last game of pool play continued a recent trend. After the Clippers took a 7-2 lead after two innings of play, that meant the Canes have trailed after two innings in four of the last six games--and have won all four.

On Saturday alone, Evoshield trailed 13-2 after two innings in both games combined. But they pulled them both out, with this one a walk-off 12-11 victory in five innings.

This particular win had a little bit of everything. But in the offensive flurry of the final couple of innings, don't forget that the Canes played some terrific defense in this game, including three double plays in the first four innings and a season-high total of seven web gems. That's what enabled them to be close enough--while being outhit, 11-9--to ultimately win the game with some clutch offensive heroics in the bottom of the fifth.

The pair of wins mean Evoshield will be the top seed in tomorrow's single-elimination bracket play. The rest of the seedings will be completed this afternoon.

Game 4 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake doubled, went to third on a fielder's choice, and scored on Chace's two-run dinger.
Score after one inning: Clippers 7, Canes 2

Third inning
JT and Ben singled. A wild pitch moved them both over. Jake hit a two-run double. Gavin singled and Jake kept running to score. Three wild pitches scored Gavin. Chace walked and stole second. A wild pitch put him on third, and Bryce's fielder's choice scored him.
Score after three innings: Canes 7, Clippers 7

Fourth inning
Elias and JT walked. Asher sacrificed them over. Jake hit an RBI single and went to second on the throw. Gavin's sacrifice fly scored JT, and Jake also raced home.
Score after four innings: Canes 10, Clippers 8

Fifth inning
After getting to a 2-2 count with one out, Colin fouled off two pitches and then hit a game-tying homer. Brady reached on a fielder's choice. Elias walked. Andrew ran for Brady, and then raced all the way home on JT's walk-off single.
Score after five innings: Canes 12, Clippers 11

Pitching Performances

Andrew started and then turned it over to Bryce, who went four and a third strong innings to keep the Canes close.

Asher finished it up in the fifth with a couple of outs.

Dugout wisdom
There was no context to this comment at all, just a simple announcement as JT got ready for the second game. "Hey Gavin," he said, "I like country music now." Good to know.

On one of the Canes' three double plays, there were some shenanigans. When the play was described to Brady, who hadn't seen it, he had an absolutely perfect summation of the play: "What a poop."

Game 4 Web Gems

• Gavin, Colin and Chace teamed up to twist a pretty 6-4-3 double play in the first.
• Eli raced over to a ball on the left field line and held the hitter to a single in the second.
• Bryce, Gavin and Chace pulled off a 1-6-3 double play to end the second.
• Gavin made a diving catch of a line drive to end the third.
• Andrew speared a line drive to center, then threw to first to get an overanxious runner, where Chace made the double-play sealing scoop.
• Chace followed up with another scoop in the fifth after JT had made a great stop on a ball down the third base line.
• Gavin raced back to corral a pop fly over short in the fifth.

Game 4 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Clippers	7	0	0	1	3	X	11	11
Canes	2	0	5	3	2	X	12	9

Summer World Series Game 3: Canes 14, Kernersville Bulldogs 9

Haven't had enough comebacks yet? The Canes spotted the Kernersville Bulldogs a 6-0 lead after two innings bright and early in Tarboro, then roared back to outscore them 14-3 over the final two frames to take a 14-9 win. The game was shortened to four innings by the time limit.

Still trailing 6-5 after three innings, Evoshield then gave up three more tallies in the top of the fourth with the time ticking perilously close to the limit. But that was just setting the stage for an epic bottom of the fourth, as the offense--which had been no-hit through two innings--pounded out seven hits and saw ten consecutive batters record a TAB on the way to plating nine runs.

The timer gently sounded as the top of the fifth began, but the Canes bullpen subdued the 'Dogs to cement the win. Don't get overconfident just yet, however--there was another barnburner yet to come.

Game 3 Canes scoring plays

Third inning

JT singled. Elias doubled. Jake drove in a pair and took second. Gavin singled in Jake and then raced to third. Drew singled home Gavin. A wild pitch put Drew on second, and he tagged up and went to third on Chace's fly ball. Colin drove him in with a two-out single.
Score after three innings: Bulldogs 6, Canes 5

Fourth inning
Andrew smacked a leadoff double. Asher sacrificed him to third. A wild pitch scored him. JT walked. Elias' fly ball dropped and he went for two bases. Jake singled home two more and took second. Gavin hit an RBI double. Drew lifted a two-run homer. Chace singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Colin drove him in with a single. Ben and Asher walked. JT drove in a pair.
Score after four innings: Canes 14, Bulldogs 9

Pitching Performances

Brady started and worked into the second.

Colin worked a perfect third and took it into the fourth.

Chace retired both batters he faced in the fourth.

Asher retired the side in order in the fifth.

Dugout wisdom
In the bottom of the fourth, with the Canes down 9-5 and batting, the players on the bench were simultaneously using the Expelliarmus stick, tapping the pen on the fence, and shooting the sniper gun. "It's time to use all our techniques," they agreed.

Game 3 Web Gems

• Chace made a beautiful snag on a hard grounder down the first base line in the second.
• Andrew made a running, sprawling catch on the line in right field in the third.
• Colin went up the middle to stop a grounder and threw to first in the fourth.
• Drew came out from behind the plate to pounce on a nubber and threw to first in the fifth.

Game 3 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Bulldogs	1	5	0	3	X	X	9	9
Canes	0	0	5	9	X	X	12	13

Summer World Series Game 2: Canes 19, Youngsville Intimidators 6

Remember that really fun first game of the day? I would suggest going back and reading the blog from that one, because the second game of the day might have been the longest, hottest, stinkiest, most painful game of the summer. Oh, it was also a 19-6 victory, so it couldn't have been all that bad (yes it was). 

The game was limited to four innings by the mercy of our friend the timer, which actually went off three times during the game, apparently trying to tell everyone it was well past time for this particular game to be over. The offense did come to life somewhat after the struggles in the earlier game, banging out a dozen hits and getting eight walks and a hit batter to go with the hits.

Two more games of pool play remain on Saturday morning before bracket play gets going on Sunday.

Game 2 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake walked and Gavin clubbed a dinger. Drew walked. Chace singled. Colin's fly to center dropped, scoring Drew. Chace went to third on a wild pitch and then just kept running all the way to the plate. Bryce and Brady walked. JT singled home a run. Andrew's fly to right fell and scored two. A wild pitch scored Andrew.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 8, Youngsville 0

Second inning
Gavin singled and stole second and third, then scored on an error. Drew walked. Chace singled and went to second on an error. A wild pitch scored Drew. Colin hit a two-run homer.
Score after one and a half innings: Canes 12, Youngsville 3

Third inning
Jake singled and stole second. Elias hit an RBI double.
Score after two and a half innings: Canes 13, Youngsville 3

Fourth inning
Colin was hit by a pitch. Bryce reached on an error. A wild pitch moved over both runners. Brady walked. JT's fly ball fell in and scored Colin. Andrew earned an RBI walk. Jake's single scored two. Chace hit an RBI double.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 19, Youngsville 4

Pitching Performances

Chace, already warm from the first outing, threw an inning and a third.

Elias pitched a solid inning and two thirds in relief.

Colin and Brady finished it up in the fourth.

Dugout wisdom
At a moment when there was nothing happening (there were a lot of those moments), Gavin and Bryce were sitting on the bench with Ben on the bucket in front of them.

"You know," Gavin observed, with this being the sixth year he has played with Ben, "I never noticed this. His last name could be St. Ahlman. He's a saint."

Game 2 Web Gems

• JT speared a rocket down the third base line and threw to first for the out.
• Coach Kevin was delighted with some first inning PFP work between Chace and Drew.
• Elias and JT teamed up on a successful appeal on a runner leaving third early.
• Ben made a nice running catch in right field in foul territory.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Canes	8	4	1	6	X	X	19	12
Youngsville	0	3	1	2	X	X	6	8

Summer World Series Game 1: Canes 6, NBA Nationals 5

In one of the best games of the summer, the Canes prevailed 6-5 over the NBA Nationals with a walk-off win in the bottom of the fifth.

It was a very unusual win, as the Nationals actually outhit the Canes, 9-3. But the Evoshield offense took advantage of walks and errors, and had a key two-run first inning after NBA had put up a three-spot in the top of the inning. That kept the game close, and the pitching and defense was good enough to keep the Canes close enough to eventually pull out the victory.

Three pitchers combined to walk just one while striking out nine, and the defense played error-free--both elements were essential to staying just close enough to win it at the end.

Oh, and there was another element: "Mental toughness," Coach Sean told the team after the game, "is what won that game." With a lot of back and forth and some other external factors, the Canes managed to play through it to get an impressive win.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake reached on an error and was wild pitched to second. He stole third while Gavin reached on a missed third strike. A wild pitch scored Jake, with Gavin racing all the way to third. Drew's fielder's choice scored Gavin.
Score after one inning: NBA 3, Canes 2

Third inning
Jake walked and went all the way to second on ball four. He stole third, then scored on Drew's double. A wild pitch put Drew on third, where he scored on Chace's fielder's choice.
Score after three innings: Canes 4, NBA 3

Fourth inning
The Canes put runners on second and third for Andrew, who came through with a key two-out hit.
Score after four innings: Canes 5, NBA 4

Fifth inning
Gavin went all the way to second on an overthrow from second. Drew and Chace were intentionally walked, and a wild pitch scored Gavin.
Score after five innings: Canes 6, NBA 5

Pitching Performances

Drew started and went three and a third excellent innings, striking out eight.

Asher entered with a runner in scoring position and stranded him in the fourth.

Chace shut things down in the fifth.

Dugout wisdom
In the middle of the fifth, with the score tied, the Canes had Gavin, Drew and Chace due up in the bottom of the inning. Coach Sean gathered them around him and said, with a perfectly straight face, "OK, Drew, if Gavin gets on, I want you to bunt him over."

If only there was a photo of Drew's face at that exact moment. Suffice it to say that Coach Sean let them know he was just kidding.

Game 1 Web Gems

• Chace made an aggressive play on a dribbler to first in the fourth and tagged out the speedy runner.
• Asher, Chace and Gavin teamed up on a key pickoff to end the fourth.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
NBA Nationals	3	0	0	1	1	X	5	9
Canes	2	0	2	1	1	X	6	3

Zone Qualifier II Championship: Canes 16, Rock Solid Red 5

The Canes took the team's sixth championship of the spring with a 16-5 win over Rock Solid Red at steamy Thomas Brooks Park on Sunday.

In contrast to the semifinal win, the Canes played from ahead in this one, racing to an 8-0 lead and then putting the game away with a seven-run bottom of the fourth that enacted the run rule. 

As you would expect from a team that committed just one error during the entire weekend, the Canes are a heads-up bunch, which meant they weren't nervous at all when a foul ball from an adjacent field interrupted the postgame team photo practice.

🚨 Please be alert for foul balls. 🚨 (And championships) #goodjobguys #punked

A post shared by Canes-Gallaher (@canesgallaher) on Jun 11, 2017 at 5:27pm PDT

Coach Sean generously gave the team a day off on Tuesday, and they will reconvene Thursday for the next practice.

Championship Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake singled and stole second. Gavin singled and took second on the throw. Drew's fielder's choice scored Jake. Chace was hit by a pitch. Colin's sharp grounder scored Gavin. Bryce's rocket grounder scored Chace. Ben hit an RBI single.
Score after one inning: Canes 4, Rock Solid Red 0

Second inning
Asher walked. Jake reached on a hard shot through the left side. A wild pitch moved up both runners. Gavin smacked a two-run double. Chace hit an RBI single. Colin poked a solo homer.
Score after two innings: Canes 8, Rock Solid Red 0

Third inning
Gavin doubled and scored on some outfield adventures.
Score after three innings: Canes 9, Rock Solid Red 5

Fourth inning
Chace was hit by a pitch again. Colin walked. Bryce drove a three-run homer. Andrew singled. Asher "singled." Jake laced an RBI double. Gavin walked. Drew's drive to the outfield scored the game's final runs.
Score after four innings: Canes 16, Rock Solid Red 5

Pitching Performances

Drew started and worked two-plus strong innings.

Bryce had to pitch through a jam in the third.

Chace finished it up with an inning and a third of stellar relief.

Dugout wisdom
"We have played these guys so many times," Chace said early in the game. "You know how many times we've played them? I know every one of their names."

He then proceeded to run down the Rock Solid lineup, getting the first few correct. Then he got to another player. "And that guy, his name is Broccoli," he said.

For the record, the individual's name is Bromley.

Championship Web Gems

• While apparently on skates on the hard Thomas Brooks infield, Colin made a nice play to field a grounder and throw out the runner in the first inning.
• Coach Kevin I cheered wildly when Brady fielded a grounder at first, then flipped to Drew covering the bag for an out in the second.
• Ben made a good play on a tailing liner in the fourth in left field.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Rock Solid Red	0	0	5	0	X	X	5	4
Canes	4	4	1	7	X	X	16	12

Zone Qualifier II Semifinals: Canes 10, Carolina Quick Strike 6

For the third time in the last three tournaments, the Canes faced the Carolina Quick Strike. This one was a Sunday semifinal affair in Cary, as Evoshield took a 10-6 victory in a game shortened to five innings by the time limit.

This one once again featured a Canes comeback, as the Quick Strike built a 3-2 lead after two innings and held a 6-2 edge going into the bottom of the third. But Evoshield scored the final eight runs of the game. They also played a third straight error-free game on the way to earning a berth in the championship game.

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake walked and stole second. A wild pitch advanced him to third and a wild pitch scored him.
Score after one inning: Canes 1, Quick Strike 0

Second inning
Bryce doubled. A fielder's choice moved him to third, and he scored on Asher's two-out single.
Score after two innings: Quick Strike 3, Canes 2

Third inning
Gavin singled and went to second on a balk. A wild pitch moved him to third. Drew walked. A wild pitch scored Gavin and put Drew on second. Chace reached on a fielder's choice. Colin sacrificed both runners. Bryce hit an RBI single and took second on the throw. Brady walked. Ben hit a two-out RBI single.
Score after three innings: Quick Strike 6, Canes 5

Fourth inning
Gavin reached on an error. Drew walked. Chace hit a two-run triple.
Score after four innings: Canes 7, Quick Strike 6

Fifth inning
The Canes loaded the bases with one out. Jake hit an RBI single, and a pair scored on Gavin's single as the time limit expired.
Score after five innings: Canes 10, Quick Strike 6

Pitching Performances

Andrew started and struck out four in two innings.

Chace struck out a pair in his one inning of relief.

Drew closed it out with two hitless innings.

Dugout wisdom
In the first inning, Colin scanned the always-packed Canes bleachers. "Look at my mom," he said. "She's on her phone."

"Well, you're not hitting," he was told.

"Yeah, but she's at a Canes baseball game," he replied, as if no one could ever tear their attention away from such a monumental event.

Semifinal Web Gems

• Brady did a nice job running down a ball in the right-center gap that should have been a double, and limiting the hitter to a single.
• Colin charged a dribbler in the fifth and made the play at first, with Chace making the stretch to finish the play.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
CQS	0	3	3	0	0	X	6	9
Canes	1	1	3	2	3	X	10	11

Zone Qualifier II: Canes 12, Carolina Rage 0

The Canes finished pool play with a 12-0 win over the Carolina Rage in a game shortened to four innings by the run rule. 

Evoshield got great pitching from two hurlers who combined on a four-hit shutout, which was made even more effective by another error-free game. This time, there was no need to come from behind, as the Canes took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first and never looked back.

The win left the Canes with the top seed for Sunday's bracket play.

Game 2 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake walked and stole third...just making sure you were paying attention! He stole second. Gavin walked. Drew singled home Jake. Chace walked. Colin singled in Gavin. A wild pitch scored Drew. Chace scored on a passed ball.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 4, Rage 0

Second inning
Asher singled. Jake reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Gavin's triple.
Score after one and a half innings: Canes 5, Rage 0

Fourth inning
Ben walked. Asher was hit by a pitch. Jake singled. Gavin ripped a grand slam. Chace singled and stole second, then scored on Colin's grounder. Bryce singled. A pair scored on Brady's single.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 12, Rage 0

Pitching Performances

Gavin started and fired two scoreless innings.

Brady finished up with two more scoreless innings.

Dugout wisdom
Asher was putting on the catcher's gear and walked to the fence in the middle of a Canes at-bat. The following conversation ensued:

Asher: "Is the count 1-2?"
Me: "No."

Asher: "2-1?"
Me: "No."

Asher: "3-1?"
Me: "No."

Asher: "0-2?"
Me: "No."

Asher: "2-2?"
Me: "Yes."
Asher: "Got it! First try!"

Bracket Web Gems

• Nice pickoff move from Brady in the third, and then a well-executed rundown that finished with Brady covering first to get the out.
• The overall Canes defense completed its second straight error-free game.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Canes	4	1	0	7	X	X	12	12
Rage	0	0	0	0	0	X	0	4

Zone Qualifier II: Canes 6, Carolina Quick Strike 3

In the latest continuation of what has been a good series between theses teams, the Canes edged the Carolina Quick Strike, 6-3, in the opening game of the zone qualifier at Thomas Brooks.

For the second time in three games, Evoshield had to mount a comeback. This time, they changed 3-1 in the fourth, but used the long ball--three different players hit dingers--to score the next four runs of the game, eventually outscoring the Quick Strike 5-0 after the top of the fourth to take the win.

The game was partially marked by the debut of some Saturday antics designed to try and keep the sometimes wandering minds of 12U baseball players focused. For your reference, Saturday's breakfast-themed nicknames (since the games were at 8:30 and 10:30, obviously) were as follows:

JT: French toast sticks

Brady: Toaster strudel

Colin: Bacon

Gavin: Corn bread (big discussion about whether corn bread is a breakfast food)

Asher: Sausage

Andrew: Pancake on a stick

Bryce: Captain Crunch

Elias (in absentia): Blueberry muffin

Jake: Egg biscuit

Ben: Spam

Drew: Bacon, egg and cheese biscuit

Chace: Doughnut

Coach Kevin I, of course, was Coach Biscuit, which is a very impressive throwback. Coach Sean was western waffle omelet on a stick, and Coach Kevin II was McGriddle.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Gavin walked and went to third on Drew's single. Chace's single scored him.
Score after one inning: Canes 1, Quick Strike 0

Fourth inning
Bryce singled. Brady cranked a game-tying two-out, two-run homer.
Score after four innings: Canes 3, Quick Strike 3

Fifth inning
Gavin and Drew hit two-out, back-to-back solo homers. Chace singled and stole second, then scored on Colin's single.
Score after five innings: Canes 6, Quick Strike 3

Pitching Performances

Chace started and struck out a pair in two innings.

Asher threw three innings of solid relief, including a pair of eight-pitch innings.

Drew struck out the side in the sixth.

Dugout wisdom
After Gavin cracked a solo homer in the fifth, he returned to the dugout and took off his helmet and placed his bat back on the fence. As the next pitch was thrown, he said, "You know, that bat flip was really obnoxious. I apologize for that." He was forgiven.

Bracket Web Gems

• Colin made a nice play backtracking on a pop fly behind first for the second out of the third inning.
• Bryce gunned down a runner stealing second.
• Asher used the thingy to pick off a runner in the fifth, then Chace and Gavin worked the rundown perfectly.

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

Zone Qualifier Championship: Canes 19, Dirtbags Black 4

After the scintillating semifinal comeback, the Canes had a quick turnaround before the championship game against a familiar opponent, Dirtbags Black. Under a rapidly warming sun, Evoshield made sure it ended quickly and took a 19-4 win in a game shortened to three innings.

The game was an offensive explosion, as every player on the roster reached base at least once. You can have your celebratory photo in either semi-formal team lineup style:

Or in partial team selfie style:

Championship Canes scoring plays

First inning

Gavin singled and stole second. Drew walked. Chace's two-run double scored Gavin. A wild pitch plated Drew. Colin's grounder scored Chace. Bryce singled. Ben walked. A pair scored on Eli's single. Andrew drove in a couple with a double.
Score after one innings: Canes 7, Dirtbags 0

Second inning
Gavin walked and stole second. Drew smashed a two-run homer. Chace singled. JT walked. Bryce singled home Chace. Brady dropped in a two-out, two-run double. Andrew singled home Brady and then stole second. Asher singled home Andrew.
Score after two innings: Canes 14, Dirtbags 4

Third inning
Jake singled. The Canes made a timely base coaching switch to put their home run coach, Coach Kevin II, at third. Gavin doubled. Drew demolished a three-run homer. Chace crushed a solo homer. With Brady, Ben and Bryce on the bases, Asher received an RBI walk which, as a couple players wisely observed, was a "true walk-off."
Score after three innings: Canes 19, Dirtbags 4

Pitching Performances

Chace struck out six in his two innings of work.

Asher finished it up with a perfect third.

Dugout wisdom
This is a conversation that actually occurred:

Coach Kevin I: "JT says that vegetables don't have a gender."

JT: "NO COACH KEVIN. What I said is that tomatoes aren't fruits or vegetables, so they don't have a gender."

You'll have to puzzle that out on your own, because I don't get it. Maybe this will help.

Championship Web Gems

• With a runner on second in the second, Ben made a good play in the outfield by getting to a ball at the fence quickly, holding the runner to third base and limiting the hitter to just a single.
• Jake sprinted in on a blooper to center in the third and made a great catch.
• Coach Kevin climbed on the dugout roof to retrieve Drew's batting glove, which had been accidentally tossed there by Bryce.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Dirtbags	0	4	0	X	X	X	4	4
Canes	7	7	5	X	X	X	19	16

Zone Qualifier Semifinals: Canes 9, Tidewater Drillers 8 (7 innings)

In the best game of the season so far, the Tidewater Drillers jumped out to an 8-0 lead after one inning, only to watch the Canes mount an epic comeback that ended in extra innings with a 9-8 victory.

The eight-run first inning was the biggest single inning posted against this group during the 12U season (including the fall) and is one of the biggest single innings put up against this group since they began kid pitch in 9U. As it turned out, though, it just set the stage for an epic comeback the likes of which this team has not often had to make.

The Evoshield offense was given the opportunity to chip away by incredible relief work from Drew, who entered in the top of the second and was absurdly dominant. Keep in mind this was achieved against a team that sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored eight runs. Choose your favorite stat:

At one point, he struck out ten in a row.

After walking the second hitter he faced, he retired the next 17 in a row.

Only two of those 17 outs were on balls that were put in play; he recorded 14 strikeouts (I know the math doesn't work--see the web gems section).

No Tidewater runner made it past second base.

The Drillers sent 12 hitters to the plate in the first inning and sent only 18 batters to the plate in the next six innings.

Drew did not allow a hit, didn't even consider allowing a run, and held the Drillers at bay long enough for the offense to ignite. And when it did, it was with a Canes specialty--two-out runs.

Five of the final six Canes runs were scored with two outs, including a heart-pounding sixth inning that didn't even really get started until there were two outs. With two gone, Elias worked it to a 3-2 count, then hit a hard single. Ben then got into a hitter's count at 2-1 and crushed a two-out, game-tying homer.

That set the stage for a fun seventh. International tiebreaker rules put a runner at second to start the inning. The Canes promptly picked that runner off for the Drillers, meaning they needed just one run in the bottom of the seventh to win the game. With Jake on third and one out, the Drillers chose to intentionally walk both Drew and Chace. That brought up Colin, who didn't wait long before doing this:

The win was one of the biggest comebacks this group has ever had and advanced the Canes to the championship game of the zone qualifier.

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

Second inning

Chace cranked a solo homer to get the Canes on the board.
Score after two innings: Drillers 8, Canes 1

Third inning
Elias reached on a ball through the infield and went to second on a throwing error. Jake hit a one-out single. Gavin roped a two-run double and scored on Chace's single.
Score after three innings: Drillers 8, Canes 4

Fourth inning
JT singled. Elias doubled. Ben drove in JT with a single.
Score after four innings: Drillers 8, Canes 5

Fifth inning
Chace doubled and scored on Colin's single.
Score after five innings: Drillers 8, Canes 6

Sixth inning
Elias kept it alive with a single. Ben drove a game-tying two-run homer to right-center.
Score after six innings: Canes 8, Drillers 8

Seventh inning
Jake was on second due to international tiebreaker rules. Gavin's fly ball to center moved him to third. Drew and Chace were intentionally walked, and Colin ended it with an RBI single.
Score after seven innings: Canes 9, Drillers 8

Pitching Performances

Elias and Chace teamed up to get through the first inning and survive some red-hot Tidewater bats.

Drew came in and was dominant for six no-hit innings.

Dugout wisdom
Most of the chatter in this game was actually about, you know, the game. How boring. Why do you think we come to these games? Coach Kevin II did have an insightful comment in pregame about locating the balls, but we'll leave that for another day.

Semifinal Web Gems

• Brady made a leaping catch in right field of a hard line drive in the second.
• Bryce and Gavin teamed up on a heads-up pickoff in the seventh. With the international tiebreaker rules in place that put a runner on second, Bryce threw behind him and picked him off for a huge out.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R
Drillers	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	8
Canes	0	1	3	1	1	2	1	9

Zone Qualifier Game 2: Canes 12, East Coast Clippers 2

Well, that was interesting. In a game that featured almost as much time devoted to on-field conferences as to baseball, the Canes beat the East Coast Clippers 12-2 in a game shortened to four innings.

This might have been--I realize these are bold words--the strangest game of the spring so far. The Canes only mustered seven hits to the Clippers' four. But three of those seven hits were homers, and Evoshield was also the beneficiary of ten walks in the four innings.

Seeds have not been posted yet for tomorrow, but the Canes will play at 8:30 against an opponent yet to be determined.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake singled and...yep. A wild pitch moved him to third. Gavin walked and stole second. A wild pitch scored Jake and put Gavin on third. A wild pitch scored Gavin. Colin walked. He went to second on a wild pitch, went to third on an error, and scored on a wild pitch. Bryce walked and scored on JT's single.
Score after one inning: Canes 4, Clippers 0

Second inning
Ben walked and scored on Gavin's two-run homer. Drew reached on an error, went to third on an error, and scored on Chace's double.
Score after two innings: Canes 7, Clippers 2

Fourth inning
With Coach Sean having departed after receiving a better contract offer, the Canes went to their home run offense. Jake walked and...obviously. Elias worked the very rare (although not rare in this game) 3-1 walk. Drew walked. Chace didn't allow anyone to mess with the count and hit a grand slam on the first pitch. Colin mercifully ended it with a homer.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 12, Clippers 2

Pitching Performances

Gavin started and threw a shutout frame.

Chace worked through the middle two innings and recorded three strikeouts.

Bryce threw a shutout fourth inning.

Dugout wisdom
Most of the things that were said in the dugout in this game are not exactly the comments you want in the blog. Many people claimed credit for Chace's fourth-inning grand slam, but only Jake was able to claim responsibility for giving Chace the "dinger sign."

Bracket Web Gems

• Everyone on the Canes defense did a pretty good job keeping track of the count. In this game, that was particularly remarkable.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Clippers	0	2	0	0	X	X	2	4
Canes	4	3	0	5	X	X	12	7

Zone Qualifier Game 1: Canes 17, Youngsville 5

The Canes opened play at The Factory in Wake Forest with a 17-5 win over the Youngsville Intimidators. Yes, the Intimidators again, meaning these two teams have now met three times in the Canes' last five games.

The victory was not the most crisp of the spring season. Youngsville forged a 4-4 tie after two innings, but then the Evoshield offense exploded and outscored them 13-1 over the final three innings. For the game, 12 of the 17 Canes runs were scored with two outs.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning

Jake walked and...you know. Gavin walked. Drew singled home Jake, and Gavin also scored as the center fielder had some issues. Colin reached on a grounder. Bryce smacked a two-run homer.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 4, Youngsville 0

Third inning
Drew singled and stole second. He tagged up and went to third on Ben's fly ball to right. Colin scored him with a double. Colin stole third and scored on a wild pitch. Bryce walked and stole second, then took third on a wild pitch. Elias walked and then outsmarted a rundown to go to second. JT singled home a run. Andrew launched a two-run double.
Score after two and a half innings: Canes 9, Youngsville 4

Fourth inning
Brady singled. Gavin doubled over the shortstop's head and an outfield error moved both runners up a base. Drew demolished a two-run homer. Colin singled and took second on an outfield error, then hustled all the way home on Bryce's grounder. Elias singled and went to third on an error, then scored on a wild pitch.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 14, Youngsville 4

Fifth inning
Asher hit a triple and scored on Gavin's two-out single. Drew tanked another two-run homer.
Score after four and a half innings: Canes 17, Youngsville 5

Pitching Performances

Andrew started and got a couple of groundball outs.

Colin threw an inning and third of quality relief, striking out three.

Brady came in for three innings of stellar pitching, allowing just one run and walking none.

Dugout wisdom
With the Intimidators pitching a lefty and a runner on first, Brady noted, "He's doing the thingy." He was greeted with blank stares. "Only lefties know what 'the thingy' is, Brady," Gavin said. If you're wondering, "the thingy" is when a lefty picks at first both with a step towards first and also with a snap throw. The technical baseball term for that, apparently, is "the thingy."

After Bryce hit a homer, he told the dugout, "I'm going to give that ball to my mom, because it's her birthday." Ben quickly replied, "Give her what all moms want..."

The dugout fell silent, waiting for Ben's priceless insight on what all moms want. As everyone turned and looked at him, he said, "You know, TV shows."

I'm as confused as you are.

Bracket Web Gems

• Brady unleashed a lethal pickoff move at first to end the third.
• Gavin made a sweet backhand of a grounder with nobody out in the fourth that started a Gavin-Colin-Drew double play.
• JT informed everyone at practice this week that he can now play the right side of the infield. He showed why in the fifth inning, as he recorded all three outs at second base, including a diving stop of a liner for the second out. (It should be noted that Coach Kevin called it that JT would make all three outs.)

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Canes	4	0	5	5	3	X	17	16
Youngsville	3	1	0	1	0	X	5	9