14U D1 Zone Qualifier Game 1: Canes 7, Zone Select 14U 6

The first game of the zone qualifier at Middle Creek wasn't especially well-played, but was a tight game, as the Canes edged Zone Select 7-6 in an international tiebreaker.

Playing up 14U D1 for the second straight weekend, the Canes built a 5-3 lead after four but watched Zone tie the game in the fifth. Time expired, leading to an international tiebreaker in the sixth. Zone Select plated one run in the top of the inning, but the third double play of the game--essential in a contest that saw Zone Select outhit the home team 12-8--for the Canes defense ended the inning without further damage. 

That set the stage for the walk-off win. The Canes quickly tied the score, then watched Jake end it with a line drive in the gap that scored Andrew.

The first four Canes runs of the game were scored with two outs. Three different pitchers saw action in the game. The game also saw the first two home runs ever on the big field for this squad, with both Gavin and Chace going yard.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Drew roped a two-out double. Chace walked. Bennett drove in Drew with a single. Macon walked and Ty worked an RBI walk.
Score after one inning: Canes 2, Zone Select 14U 0

Second inning

Jake coaxed a two-out walk, stole second, and scored on Gavin's two-run, two-out homer.
Score after two innings: Canes 4, Zone Select 14U 0

Third inning
Chace led off with a solo blast to center.
Score after three innings: Canes 5, Zone Select 14U 3

Sixth inning
In the tiebreaker, Asher started and second and went to third on Colin's fielder's choice. He scored when Andrew's ball to right wasn't caught. Bryce singled. Jake ended it with a walk-off RBI hit.
Score after six innings: Canes 7, Zone Select 14U 6

Pitching Performances

Andrew started and went two scoreless innings.

Colin worked two innings of middle relief and carried the game into the fifth.

Bennett finished it out with two innings of relief work, including working out of the international tiebreaker situation with minimal damage in the sixth.

Dugout wisdom
As the team went through pregame stretching, Coach Kevin I had the players doing straight-leg marches. Ty observed, "This reminds me of when I was in college." So Ty is apparently now ineligible for 13U baseball.

Game 1 Web Gems

• The first of four double plays on the day came with runners on first and second in the second. Gavin came across the middle and gobbled up a grounder, stepped on second and threw to Chace at first to end the inning.
• Nice PFP work by Colin and Chace in the fourth, as Chace fielded a grounder and flipped to Colin covering first.
• Another double play in the fifth, as Gavin went to Colin at second for the out, and then Chace dug out the throw at first to complete the play.
• In a suitable ending to the game, the Canes turned a 4-6-3 double play, going Colin to Gavin to Chace.
• Bryce made a web gem catch in the dugout of a foul ball off Gavin's bat, reaching over the fence to make the play.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Zone Select 14U	0	0	3	0	2	1	6	12
Canes	2	2	1	0	0	2	7	8