PG Super25 Game 4: Canes 3, Raiders 2

In an entertaining game if you didn't care who won (nerve-wracking if you did care who won), the Canes edged the Raiders Baseball Club (Tenn.) 3-2 to clinch a spot in Saturday's top eight bracket play.

Bryce pitched a gutsy five innings and got some timely plays from his defense to keep the Canes close long enough for the offense to grind out a handful of runs. The offense was somewhat slow to come to life because of some adventures behind the plate, including four strikeouts looking on pitches that were, and I am trying to be gentle here and not exaggerate, the worst calls in all of baseball history.

After the game, tournament officials told the Canes to move to another field to finish the game against Five-Star, whereupon arriving at that field, tournament officials told the Canes to move back to the field they had just left to finish the game against Five-Star. It was that kind of day--but also a day that ended with a spot in the final eight among the top teams in the country.

Game 4 Canes scoring plays

Fourth inning

Drew demolished a solo homer to deep center.
Score after three and a half innings: Raiders 1, Canes 1

Fifth inning
Mason reached on a one-out three-base error. Reid tripled him home and scored on a wild pitch.
Score after four and a half innings: Canes 3, Raiders 2

Pitching Performances

Bryce was awesome, throwing five innings and scattering six hits while walking just two.

Mason shut it down in the sixth with a scoreless frame.

Dugout wisdom
Most of the things that were said in the dugout during this game don't need to be repeated. But it is absolutely true that when the game was over, the home plate umpire--if you saw the game, you probably remember him--walked into a circle of Canes parents and then said to my wife, "So, did someone win that game, or did it end in a tie?" 

Game 4 Web Gems

• With two outs and a runner on first in the third, JT handled a curveball down and away and still came up firing, throwing a rocket to Gavin at second to retire the runner trying to steal.
• Colin made a diving stop up the middle to spear a line drive leading off the fourth.
• With one out and runners at the corners in the fourth, JT came out from behind the plate to catch a bunt that was popped up, then threw to first to double off the runner.
• Colin made a quality play backing up on a pop-up into shallow right in the fifth.

Game 4 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Canes	0	0	0	1	2	0	3	6
Raiders	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	6