PG Super25 Semifinals: Canes 13, Five-Star National 11

Remember what we said about playing tournaments in Florida in July? Here's a scene from Saturday's fourth inning:

If it's #pgsuper25, it must be a rain delay. Canes hanging out in the team van during today's thunderstorm, which is still happening. #lighters #teamplaylist #shevanigans

A post shared by Canes-Gallaher (@canesgallaher) on Jul 22, 2017 at 9:43am PDT

That's right, it's another thunderstorm delay. But that's OK, because as Coach Sean said, "We just needed some naps."

When the thunderstorm hit, the Canes had just endured a rough bottom of the third inning and trailed 9-4. After going back to the hotel and killing a couple hours, they returned to the field needing to score five runs just to tie against a lefty pitcher who had been dominant in his previous appearances. 

And then...boom. The Canes exploded for eight runs in the fourth, sending 12 hitters to the plate, getting deeper into the Five-Star bullpen, and eventually holding on for dear life to a 13-11 victory that puts them into Sunday morning's national championship game. The ten hits in the semifinal were the most for Evoshield in any game in the tournament. Seven different players had base hits and eleven different players reached base as the Canes persevered through injury, the weather, and a strong opponent to earn the win. 

Overall, the Canes were outhit 13-10, gave up four home runs and hit zero, had three extra-base hits to the opponent's five, lost the starting pitcher five pitches into the game due to injury, were down 9-4 after three innings...and won the game.

You should also know that at one point the Canes decided they were the most superstitious team in baseball for their variety of offense-producing quirks (rally cups, Jerry, snipers, humming Spanish songs, whatever it takes). This perhaps some of the reported behavior of the parents, including one unnamed individual who clutched a bloody Kleenex for the final three innings. Whatever it takes, folks.

This is what a massive comeback in the #pgsuper25 national semifinals looks like. Canes will play for title tomorrow.

A post shared by Canes-Gallaher (@canesgallaher) on Jul 22, 2017 at 2:11pm PDT

Tomorrow's championship game will be against a familiar opponent, the powerful Tri-State Arsenal squad, and will begin at 8 a.m. 

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

First inning

Gavin was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a fielder's choice and scored on an error.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 1, Five-Star 0

Third inning
Asher hit a one-out single and went to second on a fielder's choice. Gavin singled and took second on the throw. Drew walked. Chace smacked a three-run double.
Score after two and a half innings: Canes 4, Five-Star 2

Fourth inning
Bryce reached on a game-turning error. Brady ripped an RBI double. Elias and Andrew walked. Ben poked a two-run single. Jake hit an RBI single. Gavin reached on an error and Ben scored. Drew's groundout scored Jake. Chace hit an RBI double. Reid's single scored Chace.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 12, Five-Star 9

Sixth inning
Gavin singled and went to second on a wild pitch. He stole third and then scored on an error.
Score after five and a half innings: Canes 13, Five-Star 10

Pitching Performances

Mason had to leave after five pitches due to injury.

Chace came in with 2.2 innings of strong relief.

Colin threw 2.2 more innings of outstanding relief.

Gavin finished it out for the final two outs.

Dugout wisdom
Jake took a slightly questionable called third strike in the first inning. Chace then told a subsequent hitter, "Learn from Jake's mistake."

Jake, standing a couple people down, audibly snorted. "Pfffft," he said. "Learn from the umpire's mistake."

Brady grinned. "Jake's triggered," he said.

Semifinal Web Gems

• Gavin made one of his best plays of the year in the first, diving to get a ball in the hole, then throwing from the ground across the diamond to get the hitter by a fraction.
• Colin made a diving stop of a grounder ticketed for right field and then threw to first to get the out.
• Jake made a nice backhanded play up the middle and threw to Chace at first to retire the first out of the fourth.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Canes	1	0	3	8	0	1	13	10
Five Star	0	2	7	1	0	1	11	13