Beast of the East Semifinals: Canes 5, Iron Horse 3

In a rematch of the previous day's pool play game, the Canes eliminated Iron Horse Baseball, 5-3.

In a frosty setting in Matthews, the Canes offense managed just four hits and was outhit by a wide 10-4 margin. But after falling behind 2-1 in the top of the third inning, the bats took advantage of some unique scoring circumstances in the bottom of the frame. Four runs eventually crossed on a combination of an error, hit by pitch, balk, walk, and a couple of singles. 

That was enough to support terrific pitching from Andrew and Bennett, both of whom pitched out of some very tough spots. Andrew stranded three runners in the first, and then Bennett got back-to-back strikeouts to end the third with the bases loaded, and then pulled off the same exact same trick in the fifth. For good measure, he got back to back groundouts to end the sixth with runners on second and third. In all, Iron Horse left 13 runners on base in the game, nine of them in scoring position.

The victory moved the Canes into the championship game at Independence High. The team adjourned to their sleighs to make the trip across town.

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

Second inning
Chace walloped a solo homer.
Score after two innings: Canes 1, Iron Horse 0

Third inning
Bryce and Elias singled. Gavin's fielder's choice loaded the bases. Drew earned an RBI walk. Chace was hit by a pitch, scoring Elias. Bennett's fielder's choice scored Gavin, and Drew came home on a balk.
Score after three innings: Canes 5, Iron Horse 2

Pitching Performances

Andrew started and gave up just two runs while walking zero in two and a third innings.

Bennett pitched the Canes out of a jam in the third and then threw three more shutout innings of relief.

Dugout wisdom
This actual conversation was had in the sixth inning, with the Canes trying to build on a 5-3 lead, time running low, and the Iron Horse pitcher having walked the leadoff batter.

Canes player: "So I should take some pitches?"

Me: "Yes."

Canes player: "OK."

Canes player then proceeds to go to the plate and swing at the very first pitch. That's what makes 13U baseball fun and unpredictable, folks!

Also, just like in Los Angeles for the World Series, the celebrity fans start to come out for the biggest tournaments. Just take a look at this:

You can't tell me you don't see the resemblance.

Semifinal Web Gems

• Chace made a backhand stab of a hot grounder at first and stepped on the bag for the out in the second.
• Colin backtracked on a pop fly into shallow right and hauled it in for the second out of the fourth.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Iron Horse	0	0	2	0	0	1	3	10
Canes	0	1	4	0	0	X	5	4