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