Nations Semifinal: Canes 9, Carolina Titans 1

There was some exciting action on the field during the Canes’ 9-1 semifinal win over the Carolina Titans, but the real energy was in the dugout. That’s where the two Coach Kevins proved to be able exterminators in addition to baseball coaches, as they first identified a wasp nest and then terminated it. 

That was not before, however, both Coach Kevins had used a towel to kill dozens of the little pests.

They weren’t all bad, though. After being stung in the middle of the first, Jake promptly hit a homer, and then his second time up hit it off the fence, meaning it may have been a Spider-Man type situation where the insect gives him superpowers.

Oh, the game. The Canes hit three straight homers in the third and got an outstanding effort on the mound from Drew. Sadly, this was the last game at Deep Creek, because the title game is at what now seems like the finest facility in all the world, Woodrow Wilson High.  

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

First inning

Within a span of about 30 seconds, Jake was stung by a bee and then smacked a leadoff homer.

Score after one inning: Canes 1, Titans 0

Third inning

Asher beat out a one-out infield single. Jake singled. Gavin blasted a three-run homer, giving him the home run cycle (solo, two-run, three-run, grand slam) in just five at bats. Drew followed with a solo homer, and then Chace made it three straight with another solo homer. Colin singled. Andrew hit a two-out RBI double.  

Score after three innings: Canes 7, Titans 1

Fourth inning

Ben singled. Asher singled. Jake walked. Chace drove in a pair with a single.  

Score after four innings: Canes 9, Titans 1




Pitching Performances

Drew was excellent in five innings, recording strikeouts for nine of the 15 outs he earned. Only two Titan runners reached third base.

Dugout Wisdom

When Chace hit his homer into the front yard of a nearby house, Asher yelled, “Hey, that’s private property!”

After Chace made a ridiculous barehand play at third base, Bryce said, “He can do that because he just spent a week with Jesus.”

Semifinal Web Gems

•   Quick reaction by Colin to spear a ball off Drew’s glove, then fire it to Chace at first to get the out.

•   Bryce gunned down a runner trying to steal second, with Gavin applying the tag.

•   Chace made a spectacular barehand play of a spinning hopper in the fourth, then threw to Brady at first to get the out.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Carolina Titans	0	0	1	0	0	X	1	2
Canes	1	0	6	2	X	X	9	12