Cap Classic Game 4: Canes 15, Elkridge Hurricanes 0

In the very rare game ended after two innings by the run rule, the Canes finished pool play with a 15-0 victory over the Elkridge Hurricanes. On a sweltering day, the Canes sent 18 batters to the plate in the first inning, putting the game out of reach with an eight-hit, 12-run explosion in the first.

Saturday's amazing stat: in two games, the Canes hit .632 as a team. That's not normal, folks.

The victory locked up the top seed for tomorrow's bracket play, meaning the first game will be at 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. Hopefully no one will get too crazy in the Rocky Mount nightlife. 

Game 4 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Elias walked and went to second on the fourth balk of the tournament. Gavin doubled him home. Chace walked and Drew was hit by a pitch. Gavin scored on an error. Wes tripled home two. Macon was hit and stole second. Jake laced an RBI double. Andrew walked, and Bryce worked an RBI walk. Eli's fielder's choice scored Jake. Gavin hit a two-run single and stole second. Chace singled. Drew hit an RBI single. Wes walked. Macon collected an RBI single.
Score after one inning: Canes 12, Hurricanes 0

Second inning
Chace made everyone (other than the Hurricanes) very happy by hitting a bases-loaded, three-run double that scored Ty, Bryce and Gavin, and ended the game.
Score after two innings: Canes 15, Hurricanes 0

Pitching Performances

Macon started for the second straight game, and for the second straight game he threw a scoreless first.

Ty was the closer--as are most pitchers when they enter in the second--and threw a hitless inning.

Dugout Wisdom
The always-entertaining Ty had some hilarious comments about one particular opposing batter who chose to smack the plate and then point at the pitcher before taking his at-bat (Ty struck him out). 

Game 4 Web Gems

• Four of the six outs were made by strikeout, so it's hard to find too many defensive plays--but Colin did make a nice running catch in shallow right of a pop fly in the second.

Game 4 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Hurricanes	0	0	X	X	X	X	X	0	0
Canes	12	3	X	X	X	X	X	15	10

Cap Classic Game 3: Canes 18, MVP Terps Red 0

In a game that had a little bit of everything--high-powered offense, great pitching, slick defense, mind-numbing heat, insects--the Canes shut out MVP Terps Red, 18-0.

Fun trivia fact: MVP Terps Red is a team from Vienna, Virginia. Or, as the sign says at the entrance to the city limits, "Home of world-renowned coach Sean Gallaher."

The win sets up perhaps one of the most important games in Canes history this afternoon. If the Canes win, they clinch one of the top two seeds, which means tomorrow's first game is at 10 a.m. If the Canes lose, they could end up in one of the 8 a.m. time slots, which means being in Rocky Mount at 7, which means getting up at...well, let's not even think about it.

Game 3 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Eli doubled. Gavin reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. Chace singled home two. Drew walked. Wes dropped in an RBI double and went to third on a fielder's choice. Jake lined an RBI single. A wild pitch put him on second and he stole third. Ty and Colin walked. Asher launched a sacrifice fly that scored Jake. Eli smacked an RBI single. Gavin roped an RBI double. Chace hit an RBI single to finish the 10-run damage.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 10, Terps 0

Second inning
Wes walked and stole second. Macon scored him with an RBI double off the fence. Jake singled and took second on the throw. Ty walked. Andrew singled home two.
Score after one and a half innings: Canes 13, Terps 0

Third inning
Drew beat out an infield single. Wes walked. Macon blasted a three-run homer. Jake reached on an infield grounder. Colin roped a two-out RBI triple. Asher lined an RBI single.
Score after two and a half innings: Canes 18, Terps 0

Pitching Performances

Macon started and I guess he did OK if you like scoreless innings, but the real show was when Jake took the mound in the second and proceeded to throw two shutout innings.

Dugout Wisdom
There was a lengthy, multi-inning discussion of whether Virginia, Maryland and Baltimore are cities or states. So as not to affect anyone's promotion status for school in the fall of 2018, we're going to leave the participants nameless.

Game 3 Web Gems

• Eli sprinted in to snag a shallow pop fly in center while Gavin tried to take his legs out. 
• Nice quick 4-6 putout from Colin to Gavin to end the first.
• Bryce made a running, diving catch in left for the second out of the third.
• Nice work behind the plate by Ty in two innings of work. 

Game 3 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Canes	10	3	5	X	X	X	X	18	14
MVP Terps Red	0	0	0	X	X	X	X	0	3

Cap Classic Game 2: Canes 19, Akadema Athletics 4

The Canes used their highly suspicious bats to turn what would have otherwise been a narrow squeaker into a 19-4 victory over the Akadema Athletics. The game was highlighted by a 12-hit offensive attack that backed up Ty's excellent two-inning start. 

It's not time for bracket play just yet, folks. There are two more pool play games tomorrow at the always comfortable and not at all bug-infested Rocky Mount Sports Complex.

Game 2 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Jake singled and stole second. Gavin singled. Jake scored on a wild pitch. A fielder's choice from Wes scored Gavin.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 2, Athletics 0

Second inning
Andrew worked a one-out walk and moved to second on the third balk of the day. Colin singled him home and took second on the throw. Jake walked. Gavin hit an RBI single and took second on the throw. Chace cracked an RBI double. Drew blasted a two-run homer.
Score after one and a half innings: Canes 8, Athletics 0

Fourth inning
Jake reached on a fielder's choice and went to second on a wild pitch. Gavin walked. Chace hit a two-run single and scored on Drew's double. Wes powered an RBI single and took second on the throw. The throw on Elias' grounder allowed Wes to score.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 13, Athletics 3

Fifth inning
Colin walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Gavin walked. Both runners moved up on a stolen base. Chace walked. Drew smashed an RBI double that scored two. Wes walked. Eli hit a two-run single and went to second on the throw. He eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Score after four and a half innings: Canes 19, Athletics 4

Pitching Performances

Ty was dominant in his two innings, recording six outs in a row, four by strikeout.

Bennett gave way to Gavin, who threw an inning and third of relief.

Chace finished it up with the final four outs.

Dugout Wisdom
A transcript (Coach Kevin II loves transcripts) of a conversation in the middle of the game:

Bennett: "What does the Fourth of July celebrate anyway?"

Wes (incredulously): "Go back to North Korea, Bennett."

Game 2 Web Gems

• A quick Wes to Colin to Chace double play ended a messy third inning.
• Great job by Gavin to get off the mound and cover first in order to take the throw from Colin for the first out of the fourth.
• Gavin got your basic 8-6 force out from center to end the fifth.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Canes	2	6	0	5	6	X	X	19	12
Athletics	0	0	3	1	0	X	X	4	2

Cap Classic Game 1: Canes 8, Pittsburgh Outlaws 7

The first game of the Cap Classic eventually ended. That concludes the highlights.

The Canes pulled out an 8-7 victory after racing to a 7-0 lead in the top of the third, but it wasn't exactly a game you want to put in the time capsule. In fact, this blog entry will self-destruct when you finish reading it.

But, hey, 1-0 in the tournament is 1-0 in the tournament, and after a game break, the Canes will be back on the field in Rocky "Bug Capital of the World" Mount later this afternoon.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Gavin reached on an error and stole second. He went to third on a fielder's choice and scored on Drew's double.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 1, Outlaws 0

Second inning
Ty reached on an error, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Asher's two-out single.
Score after one and a half innings: Canes 2, Outlaws 0

Third inning
Gavin, Chace and Drew went back-to-back-to-back with doubles. Wes walked. Macon singled home Drew and stole second. Ty's grounder scored Wes. Macon raced home on a passed ball.
Score after two and a half innings: Canes 7, Outlaws 0

Fourth inning
Jake walked, stole second, went to third on Chace's single, and scored on a balk.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 8, Outlaws 3

Pitching Performances

Andrew started and went two good innings. After that, it was an adventure.

Dugout Wisdom
Coach Kevin II drew high praise for his sweet dance moves when an overthrow on Ty's grounder in the second necessitated some quick reflexes.

Game 1 Web Gems

• Quick feet by Andrew on a pickoff in the first.
• Chace made a nice scoop of a low throw to end the first.
• Chace scooped it again for the second out of the second. 

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Canes	1	1	5	1	X	X	X	8	8
Outlaws	0	0	3	4	X	X	X	7	3

Perfect Game Greensboro Championship: Canes 4, Canes-Haire 3

In one of the best games of the summer, the Canes won a heart-pounding 4-3 come-from-behind victory in walk-off fashion in the championship game of the PG Super25 Super Qualifier in Greensboro.

Facing very good pitching, the Canes were actually outhit 8-6, and had managed just four hits going into the bottom of the seventh. Going into that decisive inning, the offense had not even put a runner on third base since the first inning, when they scratched out a run thanks to a single and a couple of errant pitches.

But the offense came alive in the bottom of the frame, putting the first three hitters on base and then celebrating when Ty earned a walk-off walk (Asher says this is the first walk-off walk since a win over the Mavericks several years ago; historians will have to confirm this fact at a later date). 

Great pitching and solid defense kept the game close enough to make the walk-off possible. A Canes-Haire team that had bashed the ball all day--scoring 42 runs in three prior bracket games--was limited to just eight hits and four walks. Canes pitchers also made big pitches when they mattered, as they stranded the bases loaded in the first, third and sixth and overall left 15 runners on base, nine of them in scoring position.

Championship Canes scoring plays

First inning
Gavin hit a one-out single and stole second. A passed ball put him on third, and he scored on a wild pitch.
Score after one inning: Canes 1, Canes-Haire 1

Seventh inning
Chace smacked a leadoff single. Drew followed with a single. Wes' hot shot to third wasn't fielded. Wild pitches scored Chace and Drew, tying the score. Eli was intentionally walked, as was Andrew, loading the bases. Ty waited out a game-winning, walk-off, championship-clinching walk.
Score after seven innings: Canes 4, Canes-Haire 3

Pitching Performances

Bennett started and went two and two-thirds innings, allowing just two runs to a team that had been pounding the ball in pool and bracket play.

Chace entered for three and a third innings of three-hit relief, wriggling out of a bases loaded jam in the third with a strikeout.

Wes fired a scoreless seventh.

Dugout Wisdom
There wasn't much time for non-game related chatter in this one. 

Championship Web Gems

• With the bases loaded in the sixth, the batter slapped a grounder to third. Ty scooped it up and fired home, where Macon made a smooth leaping catch to get the force and prevent the run.
• Speaking of Macon, great work behind the plate all weekend. 

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Canes-Haire	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	3	8
Canes	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	4	6

Perfect Game Greensboro Semifinals: Canes 12, Rawlings Prospects 6

The bats stayed hot after the comeback in the quarterfinals, but this time the offense was as much a matter of patience as productivity. The Canes worked eight walks in four innings, including five in a five-run first, on the way to a 12-6 win over the Rawlings Prospects. Five different pitchers saw time on the mound as the Perfect Game pitching rules necessitated some creative moves to keep everyone available for the title game.

The win advanced the Canes to the championship game, where they would face familiar foe Canes-Haire, all of whom had baseball pants that reached their socks.

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

First inning
Chace doubled. Drew walked. Both runners moved up on an error, as Wes reached first. Macon, Eli and Bennett worked RBI walks. Andrew hit a two-run single.
Score after one inning: Canes 5, Prospects 0

Second inning
Chace singled. Drew walked and stole second. Wes lifted a two-run double, then scored on Ty's wizard-like single.
Score after two innings: Canes 8, Prospects 0

Fourth inning
Colin walked and scored on Drew's double. Wes' double scored Drew. Ty singled home Wes. Eli reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, went to third on a fielder's choice, and scored on a wild pitch.
Score after four innings: Canes 12, Prospects 3

Pitching Performances

Bennett got the first two outs of the game before Andrew took over and pitched two and a third innings of two-hit relief. Eli got out of a jam in the fourth, and Gavin and Macon pitched the fifth.

Dugout Wisdom
Ty hit a ball with perhaps the most spin in baseball history in the second. The ball, which appeared to first be foul, suddenly reversed its direction, and in the process sent the first baseman to his knees like a Kyrie Irving crossover. As you would expect, Ty was roundly congratulated for figuring out a way to break ankles in a baseball game.

The game also featured plenty of fashion commentary on the wisdom of rolling up your baseball pants above your knees.

Semifinal Web Gems

• Gavin made an absurd barehanded play on a deflected ball in the third and Ty hauled in the throw to complete the play. 
• Slick footwork by Andrew on a pickoff at first base in the third, and then Ty and Wes finished the rundown and the inning.
• Andrew ran a long way to snag a fly ball in right leading off the fifth.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Prospects	0	0	0	3	3	X	X	6	4
Canes	5	3	0	4	X	X	X	12	9

Perfect Game Greensboro Quarterfinals: Canes 14, Augusta Braves 7

In one of the more interesting games of the summer, the Augusta Braves built a 7-1 lead in the fourth inning, only to watch the Canes score 13 unanswered runs to win a 14-7 decision in a game ended by the time limit.

Everything went wrong early, as the offense produced just two hits in the first three innings while the Braves hung a five-spot in the first. That staggered the Canes in the early going, but after some unusual back and forth on various parts of the field, the dugout came alive during an 11-run fourth inning that saw nine base hits and 16 batters come to the plate. 

Quarterfinal Canes scoring plays

Third inning
Andrew walked. Bryce moved him over with a grounder, and he scored on Jake's fielder's choice.
Score after three innings: Braves 6, Canes 1

Fourth inning
Wes singled and moved to second on a fielder's choice. Eli singled. Ty walked. Andrew singled in a run. Bryce walked. Gavin hit a two-out, two-run single. Chace crushed a two-run triple. Drew singled him home. Wes singled (again). Macon singled. Eli drove in a pair with a two-run opposite field single. Two scored on Bennett's long drive to right.
Score after four innings: Canes 12, Braves 7

Fifth inning
Gavin launched a one-out double and scored on Chace's double. Drew doubled him home, went to third on Asher's single...and time expired.
Score after five innings: Canes 14, Braves 7

Pitching Performances

Andrew started and handed the ball to Wes, who worked out of trouble in the first.

Drew entered for four innings of three-hit relief.

Dugout Wisdom
Sometimes all the dugout wisdom isn't appropriate for the blog. But Gavin's account of what happened to his glove during a collision near second base was enjoyable (if fictional, because we know they "don't play that way"). 

Quarterfinal Web Gems

• Jake, Gavin and Chace teamed up for an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play to finally finish the first.
• Drew earned the lockdown defense chain by starting a 1-6-3 double play that finished the fifth.

Quarterfinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Braves	5	0	1	1	0	X	X	7	10
Canes	0	0	1	11	2	X	X	14	15

Perfect Game Greensboro Game 2: Canes 17, Bomb Squad Elite 3

The Canes finished pool play at 2-0 with a 17-3 win over Bomb Squad Elite. The offense put the game away with a seven-run fourth inning that saw the Canes smack eight hits in the frame. The game, played at Guilford College, was shortened to five innings by the run rule. 

The pair of victories gave the Canes the top seed in Sunday's bracket play, which will begin at 1:40 p.m. (the rare late start!) in Greensboro.

Game 2 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Jake walked and stole second. Gavin doubled him home. He took third on a fielder's choice and scored on Macon's single.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 2, Bomb Squad 0

Third inning
Chace was hit by a pitch and went to second on an error. Drew and Wes walked. Macon's fielder's choice scored Chace. Macon stole second. Eli lined a two-run single.
Score after two and a half innings: Canes 5, Bomb Squad 0

Fourth inning
Bryce singled and Asher sacrificed him to second. Jake walked. Gavin hit an RBI double. Chace followed with an RBI single and stole second. Wes hit a long two-run single. Macon tripled to right, scoring Wes. Eli hit an RBI single and then scored on Bryce's single.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 12, Bomb Squad 2

Fifth inning
Jake walked and went to third on Gavin's single. Gavin stole second. Chace lifted an RBI sacrifice fly. Drew walked. Wes doubled home Gavin. Macon's sacrifice fly scored Drew. Eli walked and stole second. Wes scored on a wild pitch. Andrew hit an RBI single.
Score after four and a half innings: Canes 17, Bomb Squad 3

Pitching Performances

Chace started and pitched into the second before encountering the Perfect Game pitch limits.

Wes threw a strong inning of relief, including a pair of strikeouts.

Asher threw two and two-thirds innings of solid relief.

Dugout Wisdom
It's not really important how this was obtained or where it came from, but somehow between the end of game one and the start of game two, Coach Kevin I obtained a lengthy chain. This was instantly deemed the "lock down defense chain," similar to the turnover chain made famous by Miami football. It is awarded to a defensive player who makes a great play during the game and is truly one of the biggest honors you can receive in 13U baseball.

Game 2 Web Gems

• Andrew made a nice running grab charging in from right field for the final out of the game.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Canes	2	0	3	7	5	X	X	17	15
Bomb Squad	0	0	2	1	0	X	X	3	5

Perfect Game Greensboro Game 1: Canes 10, Charlotte Nationals 0

Perfect Game play began in Greensboro with a 10-0 win over the Charlotte Nationals. The slightly different pitching rules necessitated several pitching changes, but all three pitchers threw very well and combined for a two-hit shutout. 

The Canes jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back, playing error-free defense to go with the solid pitching and nine-hit offensive attack. The game was shortened to four and a half innings by the run rule.

The team then had a rare game break, giving them the afternoon to enjoy the sights and sounds of Greensboro before switching fields for the second game of the day.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Jake walked and stole second. Gavin singled and stole second. Drew smacked a two-run single. Wes knocked an RBI double. A pair of fielder's choices from Macon and Eli scored Wes.
Score after one inning: Canes 4, Nationals 0

Second inning
Asher singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Jake walked. Gavin's fielder's choice moved Asher to third. Gavin stole second. Two scored on Chace's single.
Score after two innings: Canes 6, Nationals 0

Third inning
Macon and Eli walked. Ty's fielder's choice moved up both runners. A wild pitch scored Macon. Andrew lined a double that scored two. Asher drove in Andrew with a single.
Score after three innings: Canes 10, Nationals 0

Pitching Performances

Perfect Game pitching rules necessitated multiple changes. Andrew started and got five outs with his 20 pitches.

Ty followed and recorded four outs with 16 pitches.

Bryce threw the final two innings of the game to finish out the shutout.

Dugout Wisdom
This was the first dugout we've ever been in that had a sample of six different kinds of dirt that could be used on the baseball field. This led to a close examination of the dirt to determine what kind it was:

Drew spent a significant amount of time working on his flow in the dugout, eventually producing something he deemed to be "extremely sexy."

Perhaps because of that flow, later in the game Coach Sean jokingly gave Drew the bunt sign to see what he would do. "I was ready to lay it down," Drew said when he came back in the dugout. "We're only up ten, we need those runs."

Game 1 Web Gems

• Gavin made a leaping catch of a liner over short to end the third.
• Jake made a diving catch on a popup to second, and it wasn't even a MadSports dive.
• Bryce ended the game by spearing a line drive back to the mound and throwing to first for a double play.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Nationals	0	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	2
Canes	4	2	4	0	X	X	X	10	9

Summer World Series '18 Championship: Canes 14, Rivercats 2

The Canes completed a bracket play blitzkrieg by winning the Top Gun Summer World Series title with a 14-2 win over the Rivercats. The game lasted just four innings due to the run rule. 

The Rivercats had earned the top seed in bracket play with a terrific performance in pool play, and were coming off a pair of impressive victories in bracket competition in which they outscored two opponents 11-0. But the Canes offense broke out with an eight-run second inning and eventually pounded out 15 hits. 

Fairly amazingly, the Canes are now the current title holders of what are likely the four biggest tournaments in the state of North Carolina for this age group: Beast of the East fall and spring, Top Gun Summer World Series, and Top Gun Winter World Series.

The Canes went 7-0 in the tournament and outscored opponents 69-26. In bracket play, the cumulative score was an even more dominating 31-6. That's indicative of great pitching and offense, but don't forget about the defense--there was just one error in bracket games and the Canes have made just one error in the last 23 defensive innings. All in all, it was a very fun way to spend Father's Day:

Championship Canes scoring plays

First inning
Chace and Drew singled. Wes hit an RBI single.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 1, Rivercats 0

Second inning
Bennett singled. Andrew and Jake walked. Gavin went the other way for an RBI single. Chace drove home two with a single. Drew singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Wes doubled home two. Macon blasted an RBI triple and then scored on a wild pitch.
Score after one and a half innings: Canes 9, Rivercats 0

Third inning
Chace doubled and stole third. Drew walked and stole second. Macon hit a two-run single and scored on Bennett's double.
Score after two and a half innings: Canes 12, Rivercats 2

Fourth inning
Jake singled. Gavin walked. Drew dropped in a two-run single.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 14, Rivercats 2

Pitching Performances

Bennett didn't allow a run to the top of the order in the first.

Drew entered in the second and mowed through the final three innings.

Dugout Wisdom
The Rivercats had the bases loaded in the second, and the runner on third was drifting down the line with each pitch. Eventually, Macon caught the pitch and whipped a pickoff throw to third, with Wes slapping on the tag. Here's Wes' recap of the play: "I could tell that runner was pissing off Macon, so I knew what was coming."

Drew went to warm up in the bullpen in the middle innings, with Coach Kevin I handling the catching duties. Drew returned alone to the dugout and announced, "I think I might have hit Coach Kevin on the shin." A couple minutes later, Coach Kevin hobbled in, with his shin already swollen where it MIGHT have been hit.

Championship Web Gems

• With two outs in the first, Bennett knocked down a hard line drive back through the middle, then threw to first to retire the side.
• With the bases loaded, Eli charged in on a would-be hit to center and fired to second to get the force out. 
• After the runner danced off third a few too many times in the second, Macon gunned him out, with Wes applying the tag.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Canes	1	8	3	2	X	X	X	14	15
Rivercats	0	2	0	0	X	X	X	2	4

Summer World Series '18 Semifinals: Canes 9, Virginia Stars 1

In a rematch of a bracket play game, the Canes prevailed over the Virginia Stars, 9-1. Great pitching carried the victory, with Chace turning in a very effective start and Wes finishing it up with spotless relief work. The game was shortened to five innings by the run rule. 

After the Canes raced to a 7-0 lead after three innings, the Stars tried to mount a rally in the fourth. They scored one run and then loaded the bases with no outs, bringing Wes out of the bullpen (well, really, he came out of the infield). He immediately induced a line drive double play, then fired a strikeout looking to end the threat and essentially end the game.

The victory meant the Canes got the privilege of driving to the very lively Nash Central High. 

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

First inning
Gavin singled and went to second on a balk. Drew doubled him home, then scored on a single from Wes.
Score after one inning: Canes 2, Stars 0

Third inning
Gavin doubled and scored on a single from Chace. Drew doubled, and then Wes smacked a two-run double. Macon's double scored Wes. Eli's single brought home Macon.
Score after three innings: Canes 7, Stars 0

Fifth inning
Drew and Wes singled. Bennett walked. Eli's fielder's choice scored one, and a wild pitch scored Wes.
Score after five innings: Canes 9, Stars 1

Pitching Performances

Chace started and worked into the fourth, allowing just one run and walking only one.

Wes escaped a bases loaded jam in the fourth and closed it out in the fifth.

Dugout Wisdom
Because of the setup of the dugout, several parents were closer than they might normally be to some of the intellectual in-game conversations that take place in the Canes dugout. After hearing a heated discussion about whether hot water is steam, Shannon said with exasperation, "You guys are so stupid!" It was said with love, though.

Semifinal Web Gems

• Wes, Gavin and Drew teamed up on a 4-6-3 double play in the third inning.
• With the bases loaded in the fourth, Gavin speared a line drive and tagged the runner wandering off second for a key double play.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
VA Stars	0	0	0	1	0	X	X	1	6
Canes	2	0	5	0	2	X	X	9	13

Summer World Series '18 Quarterfinals: Canes 8, Dirtbags 3

The Canes opened bracket play at Northern Nash High with an 8-3 win over the Dirtbags. The game was close throughout, but the Canes blew it open with a four-run fourth, and time expired in the fifth.

Beginning a trend that would last throughout bracket play, the Canes defense was airtight, as they did not commit an error in five innings. 

Quarterfinal Canes scoring plays

First inning
Jake singled and Gavin walked. A wild pitch moved them up, and Wes hit a one-out single to score Jake.
Score after one inning: Canes 1, Dirtbags 0

Second inning
Andrew waited out a two-out walk. Jake singled. Gavin tripled home a pair and scored on Chace's triple.
Score after two innings: Canes 4, Dirtbags 2

Fourth inning
Jake singled and stole second. Gavin walked. Chace hit an RBI single. Drew walked. Macon lined a two-run single. Ty's fielder's choice scored Drew.
Score after four innings: Canes 8, Dirtbags 3

Pitching Performances

Andrew started and went two solid innings.

Chace was terrific in two and a third innings of two-hit relief.

Drew struck out the final two hitters to preserve the win.

Dugout Wisdom
Andrew had an unusual experience in the second, when he worked a 3-0 count. The next pitch was a strike...and the umpire promptly went through his entire strikeout call. Around the time he finished punching Andrew "out," the umpire checked his counter and realized the count was actually 3-1. When asked about it upon his return to the dugout, Andrew remarked with a perfectly straight face, "That seemed a little overboard."

Quarterfinal Web Gems

• With runners on first and second in the first with one out, Elias made a sliding catch in center, then fired to second to complete the inning-ending double play.
• Wes made a diving stop at second, then tossed to Chace for the out in the second.
• Gavin made a gorgeous spinning play at shortstop to get the first out of the third.

Quarterfinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Dirtbags	0	2	1	0	0	X	X	3	7
Canes	1	3	0	4	X	X	X	8	11

Summer World Series '18 Game 4: Canes 5, Walk-Off Warriors 4

In the most exciting game of the tournament so far, the Canes put together a three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth to get a 5-4 walk-off win against (fittingly) the Walk-Off Warriors. 

For the first four and a half innings, it was another one of those games that won't go in the time capsule, as Canes pitchers issued seven walks. Even with those free bases, though, the Canes still held a 2-1 lead going into the top of the fifth. But that's when the Warrior bats got hot, as they plated three runs with just a few minutes remaining in the time limit. 

That set the stage for a frenetic rally. Wes got it started by sacrificing his body to wear a fastball, and three hits and a walk later, Jake was at the plate as the timer went off to signal the end of the time limit. A few seconds after the home plate umpire made his very presidential announcement that time had expired, Jake roped a bullet to score Colin with the winning run. The Canes finished 4-0 in pool play and will be the second seed in tomorrow's bracket action. Most importantly, that means the first game is at 10 a.m. rather than 8 a.m.

Game 4 Canes scoring plays

Third inning
Macon singled and scored on Bennett's double. A wild pitch put Bennett on third, and he scored on Andrew's fielder's choice.
Score after three innings: Canes 2, Warriors 1

Fifth inning
Wes started the rally by being hit by a pitch. Eli singled him to third. Macon singled home Wes. Ty singled. Andrew walked. A wild pitch scored Macon. Jake came through with a huge walk-off single.
Score after five innings: Canes 5, Warriors 4

Pitching Performances

Gavin started and threw two innings of one-hit baseball.

Bennett had a very strong two-inning relief appearance in which he did not allow a hit.

Ty got two outs in the fifth and then handed it to Bryce, who got a big final out.

Game 4 Web Gems

• Wes went deep in the hole at short and made the long throw to Chace to get the first out of the game.

Game 4 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Warriors	1	0	0	0	3	X	X	4	5
Canes	0	0	2	0	3	X	X	5	6

Summer World Series '18 Game 3: Canes 8, Carolina Havoc 6

Day two of pool play began early Saturday morning at Rocky Mount High School. The Canes built a 7-1 lead on the Carolina Havoc and held on for an 8-6 victory.

It was a five-run third inning that stretched out the lead. In a pattern that would continue throughout the rest of the day, Canes pitchers had some trouble finding the strike zone, but the offense provided enough cushion to overcome it.

Game 3 Canes scoring plays

Second inning
Wes walked and scored on Macon's double. Macon advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Ty's grounder.
Score after two innings: Canes 2, Havoc 0

Third inning
Bryce walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Jake walked. Gavin singled to load the bases. Chace drew an RBI walk before Drew lined a two-run double. Back-to-back fielder's choices from Colin and Macon scored two more.
Score after three innings: Canes 7, Havoc 1

Fourth inning
Andrew and Bryce walked. Jake bunted them over, and Gavin drove in Andrew with a sacrifice fly.
Score after four innings: Canes 8, Havoc 5

Pitching Performances

Wes started and had the longest outing of the tournament so far for the Canes, allowing just two hits in three innings.

Asher got two outs in the fourth.

Andrew threw an inning of one-hit relief.

Drew finished it up with four pitches.

Dugout wisdom
Victor Ward became the new hero of the Canes simply by leaving his baseball card from the Rocky Mount JV team tacked to the bulletin board in the third base dugout. "Do it for Victor Ward!" became a team rallying cry. 

Game 3 Web Gems

• Jake, Gavin and Chace put together a sweet 4-6-3 double play in the second to erase a leadoff runner.
• Eli covered a lot of ground--maybe almost a little too much ground--before hauling in a fly ball to center in the fifth.

Game 3 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Havoc	0	0	1	4	1	X	X	6	8
Canes	0	2	5	1	X	X	X	8	5

Summer World Series '18 Game 2: Canes 8, RBA Southies 6

In their first comeback of the tournament, the Canes trailed the RBA Southies 6-4 after three innings in a game that would only go four due to the time limit. But they scraped together four runs in the top of the fourth to take an 8-6 lead, then shut down the Southies in the bottom of the frame to seal the victory.

Looking at the stats, the victory was a bit of a surprise. The Canes committed four errors, walked four, hit one, left six runners in scoring position in just four offensive innings, and ran into a double play. 

Other than that, things went well. 

But the most important stat was that it was a victory, creating a 2-0 mark in pool play. The second day of pool play begins bright and early on Saturday morning with an 8 a.m. start. 

Game 2 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Eli and Gavin walked, and were driven home by Chace's double. Back to back walks loaded the bases, and Chace scored on a wild pitch.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 3, Southies 0

Third inning
Drew cranked a one-out double and scored on Macon's double.
Score after two and a half innings: Canes 4, Southies 3

Fourth inning
Jake singled. Eli walked and Gavin was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Drew collected a one-out RBI walk. Wes came through with a clutch two-run single. Drew scored on Andrew's bunt.
Score after three and a half innings: Canes 8, Southies 6

Pitching Performances

Bennett started and threw one inning.

Chace tossed two innings of one-hit relief.

Drew finished it with a seven-pitch fourth inning.

Dugout wisdom
Coach Kevin I was telling a story about fishing when a thunderstorm hit. Andrew replied, a little incredulously, "So you stopped fishing?" Coach Kevin I said, "I like my life, Andrew." Andrew appeared to seriously consider this choice and then said, "Fishing...life...fishing...life," while trying to size up which had more value to him.

Later in the game, Gavin was asked to bunt with two runners on. He failed on two attempts (and then was hit by a pitch). In that same inning, Andrew was sent up to pinch-hit and promptly laid down a run-scoring bunt on the very first pitch. "You did that better than me, I'll give you that," Gavin said when Andrew returned to the dugout.

Game 2 Web Gems

• Ty claimed to have made a web gem during the pre-inning warmups. We will take his word for it.
• Nice pickoff move from Chace to nail a runner at first in the second.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Canes	3	0	1	4	X	X	X	8	6
RBA Southies	3	0	3	0	X	X	X	6	5

Summer World Series '18 Game 1: Canes 17, Virginia Stars 4

The Canes began Summer World Series play with a 17-4 win over the Virginia Stars in a game that ended after three and a half innings due to the run rule. The game was never really in doubt after a big 11-run first inning that was one of the best offensive displays of the season, with 15 hitters coming to the plate.

The tournament format means teams play a whopping four pool play games, with the Canes slated to play two on Friday and two on Saturday.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Singles by Jake and Gavin and Chace being plunked loaded the bases. Jake scored on a passed ball. Drew drove in Gavin with a fielder's choice. Macon was hit. Eli hit a two-run single. Ty lined an RBI double down the line. Bennett hit an RBI single. Bryce reached on a ball to third base. Gavin drove in Bryce with a two-out single. Chace singled. Drew drove in two more with a single.
Score after one inning: Canes 11, Virginia Stars 0

Second inning
Macon and Eli reached on errors. Andrew's sac fly scored Macon. Bennett roped an RBI double.
Score after two innings: Canes 13, Virginia Stars 4

Third inning
Gavin, Chace and Drew hit three straight doubles. Wes hit an RBI single. Macon blasted an RBI triple.
Score after third innings: Canes 17, Virginia Stars 4

Pitching Performances

Ty started and retired the side in order in the first.

Andrew threw two scoreless innings of relief.

Asher finished it out with a hitless fourth.

Game 1 Web Gems

• Against the very first hitter of the game, Ty knocked down a rocket of a line drive hit back to the mound and then threw to Chace at first to get the out.
• Gavin, Wes and Chace teamed up on a 6-4-3 double play to help get through a big jam in the second.
• Macon gunned down a runner trying to steal second to end the second.
• Wes dashed back and caught a pop up into shallow right in the fourth.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
VA Stars	0	4	0	0	X	X	X	4	2
Canes	11	2	4	X	X	X	X	17	14

Top Gun '18 Zone Qualifier: Canes 8, SW Storm 14U 0

The Canes completed an impressive roll through a 14U tournament at Middle Creek, taking an 8-0 victory in the championship game over the South Wake Storm. The win, which was finished well after the bedtimes of several coaches and caused everyone to unanimously agree that morning game times are clearly better, was the third shutout in four games for the pitching staff.

Drew and Wes teamed up on a one-hitter, unless you believe Chace's lobbying to receive an error on the one hit, in which case it was a no-hitter (sorry, Chace, it was a one-hitter). That means the pitchers allowed just five total hits in the four games.

Here's your championship group photo:

Championship Canes scoring plays

Second inning
Elias walked and stole second. Macon walked. A wild pitch moved them up. Ty walked. Colin's fielder's choice scored Elias, and Jake's single scored Macon.
Score after two innings: Canes 2, SW Storm 14U 0

Fourth inning
Ty walked, went to second on a wild pitch, advanced on a fielder's choice from Bryce and then scored when the throw got away.
Score after four innings: Canes 3, SW Storm 14U 0

Fifth inning
Jake singled and stole second. As he advanced to third on a wild pitch, the throw went into left field, scoring him. Chace walked and stole second. Drew's long fly to center wasn't handled. Wes hit an RBI single. Drew scored on Eli's sacrifice fly. Macon singled home Wes.
Score after five innings: Canes 7, SW Storm 14U 0

Sixth inning
Bennett singled. Two wild pitches put the winning run on third, and after a pair of walks, Chace hit the walk-off single.
Score after six innings: Canes 8, SW Storm 14U 0

Pitching Performances

Drew struck out five in two very efficient innings.

Wes allowed just one baserunner in four innings of work and only two balls left the infield.

Dugout wisdom
The names of these particular individuals are being removed to protect their identities. But at one point late in the game, there was a dugout discussion between two players.

Player one: "When you're pitching, do you try to throw a strike or do you just throw it as hard as you can?"

Player two: "Usually until it gets to two strikes, I just throw it."

Player one: "Me too! When I'm pitching I just sling the crap out of it."

Also, Jake constructed a radar gun to time the pitches:

Championship Web Gems

• With a runner on first, Chace made a sweet backhanded stop of a ball in the hole at first, then threw to Gavin covering second for the final out of the fifth.
• Drew fielded a ball down the line at third and made a strong throw all the way across the diamond to get the final out of the sixth.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
SW Storm 14U	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	0	1
Canes	0	2	0	1	4	1	X	8	8

Top Gun '18 Zone Qualifier Semis: Canes 4, NCBA 14U 3

In a truly incredible feat, the Canes were no-hit but still managed to take a 4-3 victory over NCBA 14U...what's that, Eli? I can't hear you.

OK, fine, the Canes actually got one hit. But it came in the fourth inning, well after the scoring had happened, and had no bearing on the final outcome, and, well, it's just a lot cooler to say you won a game in which you got no hits than it is to say you won a game in which you got one hit. But, fine. The Canes were one-hit but still managed to take a 4-3 victory over NCBA 14U.

In an extremely slow-paced game, time expired during the bottom of the fourth, advancing the Canes to the championship game.

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

Second inning
Five walks in a row, 14 pickoffs in a row, plus a fielder's choice from Jake scored four runs. Look, no one promised it was going to be exciting.
Score after two innings: Canes 4, NCBA 14U 3

Pitching Performances

Bennett started and worked through two and a third innings, allowing just two hits.

Drew finished it up with an inning and two thirds of relief, working out of a bases loaded jam in the third with a pair of strikeouts.

Dugout wisdom
One of the variety of charts that is kept in the dugout is the pitching chart, which requires a player to record each pitch thrown by a Canes pitcher. At the end of the inning, the pitches are tallied and when each inning is added, that gives you the pitch count, which should match the count in the scorebook.

At the end of the first, the scorebook had Bennett for 30 pitches. Andrew added up the pitches on the chart and announced, "29 pitches." Then he added them again: "28." On the third try, he announced, "34." By this point he sounded like a bingo caller at the Elk Club. Finally, on the fourth and fifth try, he came up with 30, and we went with that.

Semifinal Web Gems

• Another error-free game for the defense, marking the third straight game without any miscues in the field.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
NCBA 14U	2	1	0	0	X	X	X	4	3
Canes	0	4	0	X	X	X	X	4	1

Top Gun '18 Zone Qualifier Game 2: Canes 5, NCBA 14U 0

A legend has been passed down from generation to generation that great treasure can be found under a rainbow. It looks like the legend was correct:

Under those artsy skies, the Canes put together a second straight shutout, this time a 5-0 decision over the NCBA Red Sox in a game shortened to four innings by the time limit. Even with a couple of missed opportunities--the bases were left loaded in the first, third and fourth (by the time limit)--the offense still banged out nine hits. That was plenty to support the four pitchers who combined on the shutout. In all, Canes hurlers allowed just one hit in seven innings of work on Saturday.

The double shutouts gave the Canes the top seed overall, meaning a late start of 4:45 on Sunday afternoon.

Game 2 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Jake singled and scorpioned into second, then scored on Chace's single. Drew walked. Wes singled, and Chace scored on a wild pitch.
Score after one inning: Canes 2, NCBA 14U 0

Second inning
A walk to Bryce and singled from Asher and Jake loaded the bases. Gavin's sacrifice fly scored Bryce. An error after Chace's single plated Jake, and then Wes cracked a double.
Score after three innings: Canes 5, NCBA 14U 0

Pitching Performances

Drew struck out the side in the first.

Andrew tossed two perfect innings.

Ty and Wes teamed up to work through the final inning.

Dugout wisdom
One thing I learned in this game is that Eli and Gavin know way more about the TV show "The Office" than I ever realized.

Jake stole second in the first with a diving, sprawling slide that as the dugout noted, bore a striking resemblance to a scorpion. After he scored, he came running back to the dugout saying, "I don't want to talk about it!" as he tried to preempt discussion of his slide.

As Wes prepared to hit in the fourth against an NCBA reliever, he asked from the on-deck circle, "Has anyone hit against this guy?"

Andrew: "Yes."

Wes: "Does he have a curveball?"

Andrew: "Yeah, he hit me in the back of the leg with it."

Wes: "So it's not good."

Game 2 Web Gems

• Jake made an incredible diving MadSports catch in right field to get the second out of the third.
• The highlight reel play of the day was Gavin's charging, short-hop pickup of a grounder to end the third, completed by Chace's scoop at first base to finish the play.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
NCBA 14U	0	0	0	0	X	X	X	0	1
Canes	2	3	0	0	X	X	X	5	9

Top Gun '18 Zone Qualifier Game 1: Canes 15, MVP Red 14U 0

After nearly a month off (the last Canes game was played May 6, which is why you had those symptoms of withdrawal), the Canes returned to action with a 15-0 shutout of MVP Red 14U at Middle Creek. Two pitchers combined on a three-inning no-hitter in a game shortened due to the run rule.

The Canes offense used a combination of patience and timely hitting to plate the 15 runs. MVP Red issued 13 walks in the three innings, and everyone on the roster reached base or drove in a run (or both). 

The game was interrupted by dark clouds and a relatively quick-passing storm, leading to a short break in the action during which most people went to their cars while Coach Sean asked, "Why isn't everyone just going home during the break?" as he took a nap on his couch.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Gavin, Chace and Drew had three straight doubles, and Wes brought Chace home with a sacrifice fly.
Score after one inning: Canes 2, MVP Red 14U 0

Second inning
Colin walked and stole second. Jake reached on a smash to third. Colin scored when Eli's grounder was thrown away. Gavin singled home a pair. Chace walked and stole second. Drew and Wes walked to load the bases. Macon's fielder's choice scored Chace. Ty walked. Bennett drew an RBI walk, as did Colin. Jake hit a two-run single.
Score after two innings: Canes 10, MVP Red 14U 0

Third inning
Gavin walked and stole second. Chace walked. Drew singled home Gavin. Andrew hit a towering sacrifice fly. Macon and Ty walked. Bryce perfectly placed a two-run single. Asher singled. Jake ended the game with an RBI single.
Score after four innings: Canes 15, MVP Red 14U 0

Pitching Performances

Chace (two K's in the first) and Colin (two innings of spotless relief) combined for a three-inning no-hitter, with a joint four strikeouts and never allowing a runner past first base in the three defensive innings.

Dugout wisdom
Gavin drove in a pair of runs with a single in the second. He thought he had a double, but was thrown out at second after the shortstop, the cutoff man, made a leaping catch of a high throw and then fired the relay to second. "I thought I had a double," Gavin explained as he came into the dugout, "and then I realized the shortstop was 6-foot-8."

With ominous clouds building, the players began taking guesses on when the rain would begin. Gavin said 7:20, Elias had 6:58, Jake said 6:45, and Asher had 6:40. The earliest was Chace at 6:30. Around that time, Andrew's mom walked by and heard the guesses. She took a meteorological glance at the sky, looked back at the dugout, and proclaimed with all the certainty of Greg Fishel, "Oh no, it's going to be a lot sooner than that." She was right, of course.

Game 1 Web Gems

• The toughest defensive play of the day was probably the last one, as Chace stayed down on a twisting grounder to first, knocked it down, and stepped on first to record the final out of the third.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
MVP Red	0	0	0	X	X	X	X	0	0
Canes	2	8	5	X	X	X	X	15	9