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