Atlantic Coast World Series Semifinals: Canes-Haire 12, Canes-Gallaher 6

Not much to say about that one. As Coach Sean described it to the team, "That is probably the worst we've ever played." And to their credit, Canes-Haire took advantage, taking a 12-6 win in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast World Series at Middle Creek. You've heard of a team win? This was a team loss, as the Canes never really got on track. It showed, as they handed out ten walks, hit two batters, balked, made an error, and recorded five of the nine offensive outs by strikeout...all in a game that lasted just three innings.

In other words, the less said, the better.

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

First inning
Eli and Gavin reached on errors. Chace walked. Drew smacked a two-run single. Ty crushed a three-run homer.
Score after one inning: Canes 5, Canes-Haire 2

Second inning
Eli hit a two-out single and stole second. Gavin singled. Chace hit an RBI single.
Score after two innings: Canes-Haire 7, Canes 6

Pitching Performances

A series of five pitchers took the mound; all would probably agree it wasn't their best performance.

Semifinal Web Gems

• With the bases loaded, Drew made a nice diving catch on the first base line to end the top of the third.
• A big 4-6-3 double play minimized the damage in the second, going Colin to Gavin to Chace.

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

Atlantic Coast World Series Quarterfinals: Canes 7, Richmond Braves 3

Quarterfinal action featured a tough matchup against a quality right-hander for the Richmond Braves. The Canes were actually outhit, 8-6, but two of those six hits were home runs, and that provided the margin for a 7-3 victory. 

The game was an uncharacteristic offensive performance in many ways, including having more strikeouts (7) than hits (6) against an opposing hurler who went the full seven innings and threw very well. But the Canes' pitching was equally good, as Andrew and Ty teamed up to minimize the damage, and they were backed up by solid defense.

The victory moves the Canes into tomorrow's semifinals against familiar opponent Canes-Haire at 10 a.m.

Quarterfinal Canes scoring plays

Third inning
Asher got it started with a one-out single. Eli dropped down a perfect bunt and beat it out. Chace singled. Drew launched a grand slam to dead center.
Score after three innings: Canes 4, Braves 0

Fifth inning
Colin drew a leadoff walk. Eli reached on an error. Gavin lined a three-run homer.
Score after five innings: Canes 7, Braves 3

Pitching Performances

Andrew had a terrific five-inning start, allowing just three runs and walking only two.

Ty finished it up by allowing just one hit over the final two innings.

Dugout Wisdom
There was a lot of talk about going to the parking lot, but that happened at a high enough volume that it wasn't just dugout wisdom, it was the entirety of Thomas Brooks Park wisdom.

After Macon sprinted down the line to back up first base on an infield grounder, he ran back behind the plate with a big smile on his face. What was he smiling about? "I beat that guy down the line," he said (and he was right).

Quarterfinal Web Gems

• Andrew's pickoff move. Andrew's pickoff move. Andrew's pickoff move. He even got the same guy twice! Andrew's pickoff move.
• Colin showed nice range on a high hopper up the middle and made the long throw to Chace at first to get the out in the sixth.

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

Atlantic Coast World Series Game 3: Canes 17, Heat Black 0

Two-out runs were the story in the final game of pool play at the Atlantic Coast World Series. Sixteen of the 17 runs that were scored in the 17-0 victory crossed the plate with two outs. The game lasted just three innings because of the run rule, but the Canes still pounded out 13 hits. Making it more amazing was that the Heat starter, a crafty lefty, held the Canes scoreless in the first. So all 17 of those runs came in just two innings, and 12 of the 13 hits were in two innings.

The three pool play victories make the Canes the top seed in the pool. One game of bracket play will take place on Saturday, and a win there would mean moving into Sunday's second day of bracket play.

Game 3 Canes scoring plays

Second inning
Wes doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. Macon walked and stole second, while Wes scored on an error. Bennett walked and stole second. Asher hit a two-out RBI single. Eli walked. Bennett scored on a balk. Asher scored on a wild pitch. Gavin lined a two-run homer. Chace hit a solo homer. Drew and Wes singled, and then Macon blasted a three-run homer.
Score after one and a half innings: Canes 10, Heat 0

Third inning
Asher reached on an error. Gavin singled. Chace walked. Asher scored on a balk. Drew walked to load the bases. Colin was hit by a pitch with two outs, scoring Gavin. Jake turned on a two-run single. Andrew reached on an error. Bennett walked. Asher hit an RBI double.
Score after two and a half innings: Canes 17, Heat 0

Pitching Performances

Bennett started and gave up just one hit in two scoreless innings.

Eli finished it up with a hitless third.

Dugout Wisdom
Coach Tanner absolutely called Macon's home run. Many times players and/or coaches claim to "call" a homer but don't actually do it--he definitely did.

Before going to the plate in the third, Andrew observed, "I have an Uncrustable wrapper in my helmet." Asked if he was going to remove it, Andrew responded with an incredulous look. "No way," he said. "I got a hit last time."

Game 3 Web Gems

• Perfect timing on a pickoff in the first, as Bennett threw to Chace to help wriggle out of a bases-loaded jam.
• Crafty Eli allowed the leadoff man to reach in the third, but it was all a scheme to get to pick him off by overthrowing Drew at first, sending the ball off the fence, and then allowing Drew to retrieve the ball and throw a bullet to second to get the runner trying to advance.

Game 3 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Canes	0	10	7	X	X	X	X	17	13
Heat	0	0	0	X	X	X	X	0	1

Atlantic Coast World Series Game 2: Canes 10, SBA Canes 1

Pool play continued at the Atlantic Coast World Series with a 10-1 win over the SBA Canes. The slow-paced outing saw the Canes receive nine walks to go with their seven base hits. After a scoreless first inning, the offense revved up in the second and the Canes were still batting when time expired in the bottom of the fourth.

The game was secondary to an injury suffered by Bryce, who was injured throwing the ball in from left and had to leave for x-rays. All the players, parents and coaches are thinking about him this afternoon.

Game 2 Canes scoring plays

Second inning
Macon doubled and went to third on a fielder's choice. Colin walked. A double steal scored Macon. Colin scored on a fielder's choice.
Score after two innings: Canes 2, SBA Canes 0

Third inning
Gavin doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. Drew walked and stole second. Wes walked. Macon hit an RBI single. Ty and Colin drew RBI walks. Macon scored on a wild pitch.
Score after three innings: Canes 6, SBA Canes 1

Fourth inning
Eli walked and scored on Gavin's double. Chace's double scored Gavin. Drew launched a two-run homer. Time expired.
Score after four innings: Canes 10, SBA Canes 1

Pitching Performances

Drew started and struck out five in two scoreless innings.

Wes and Chace threw an inning of relief each, with Chace striking out the side in the fourth.

Dugout Wisdom
Eli had a terrific day on Thursday and informed the team it was because he'd eaten his sandwich on cinnamon bread. After Eli popped out in the second, Wes said, "He must have forgotten his cinnamon bread this morning."

Game 2 Web Gems

• Incredible play by Macon behind the plate leading off the fourth. It looked like the batter was going to reach first on a missed third strike, but Macon retrieved the errant pitch and fired a rocket to Drew at first to get the out.

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

Atlantic Coast World Series Game 1: Canes 10, South Charlotte Braves 1

The most notable thing about this game was something only a giant nerd would notice: the opposing team, the South Charlotte Braves, wore jerseys that read "Brave's". Yes, they had an apostrophe in them. Like I said, only a nerd would care...but that was ALL THIS NERD COULD SEE FOR FIVE INNINGS.

Oh, the game. The Canes won 10-1 in a game shortened to five innings by the run rule. The offense stormed out to a 7-0 lead and was never really threatened.

The tournament format calls for two more pool play games tomorrow morning, then bracket play beginning on Saturday.

Game 1 Canes scoring plays

First inning
Elias singled, stole second, went to third on an error, and scored on an error. Gavin walked and stole second, then went to third on an error. Chace walked. Drew blasted a three-run homer.
Score after one-half inning: Canes 4, Brave's 0

Second inning
Asher singled, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Eli's double. Gavin doubled home Eli, then scored on Chace's shot past first.
Score after one and a half innings: Canes 7, Brave/s 0

Fifth inning
Drew singled. Wes walked. Ty lined a one-out RBI single. Colin singled home a pair.
Score after four and a half innings: Canes 10, Brave;s 0

Pitching Performances

Andrew was excellent in three shutout innings, allowing just two hits.

Wes struck out the side in the fourth.

Gavin recorded two strikeouts in the fifth.

Dugout Wisdom
Drew lined a single to left in the fifth. "That's right field to Drew," Jake observed (Drew has a history of being creative with the names of various positions).

Game 1 Web Gems

• With a runner on first in the third, Bryce charged in on a would-be single to right, came up throwing, and gunned the runner out at second to get the force.
• Gavin and Chace teamed up on a perfectly executed pickoff play at first in the fifth.

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

Cap Classic Championship: Canes 10, Rivercats 4

In approximately the 142nd meeting between these two teams, the Canes prevailed for the Cap Classic championship with a 10-4 win over the Rivercats. Yes, these teams have met for the title in two of the last three tournaments the Canes have played. 

In this one, it was consistent offense that did the trick, as the Canes scored in every inning. In the tournament, the Canes played 28 innings and did not trail after any of them. In fact, the closest they came was in the title game, as the Rivercats plated one in the top half of the first, only to watch the homestanding Canes respond with two in the bottom of the inning. For the tournament, the Canes offense hit a red-hot .500 as a team, going 80-for-160 at the plate.

Now it's time for a brief one-week break before reassembling the second week of July for the season's last two tournaments.

Championship Canes scoring plays

First inning
Eli doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. Chace walked and stole second. Drew's sacrifice fly brought in Eli, and Chace scored on an error.
Score after one inning: Canes 2, Rivercats 1

Second inning
Jake singled, stole second, and scored on Ty's double.
Score after two innings: Canes 3, Rivercats 1

Third inning
Gavin walked and went to second on an error. Chace singled. Drew's shot past second scored two.
Score after three innings: Canes 5, Rivercats 2

Fourth inning
Gavin ripped a two-out double and scored on Chace's single.
Score after four innings: Canes 6, Rivercats 2

Fifth inning
Wes singled. Macon singled and took second on the throw. Jake scored two by crushing a triple. Asher's fielder's choice scored Jake.
Score after five innings: Canes 9, Rivercats 4

Sixth inning
Chace and Drew walked, and Wes scored Chace with a single.
Score after six innings: Canes 10, Rivercats 4

Pitching Performances

Ty started and worked three innings, allowing just three runs.

Drew fired four innings of relief, allowing just one hit and allowing just two runners past second base.

Championship Web Gems

• There weren't really any sparkling defensive plays in this one, but the Canes made every routine play. And how about this stat--in seven innings, Ty and Drew gave up zero walks, which went a long way to limiting the Rivercat offense.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Rivercats	1	0	2	0	1	0	0	4	8
Canes	2	1	2	1	3	1	X	10	13

Cap Classic Semifinals: Canes 15, Pittsburgh Outlaws 0

The last meeting between the Canes and Pittsburgh Outlaws was perhaps not the Canes' best showing. They made up for it in Sunday's rematch in the semifinals, racing to a 15-0 win in a two-inning run-rule victory. How much of a dominating performance was it? The Canes sent 22 batters to the plate in the game, and 17 of them reached base. 

Of course, don't forget about Andrew's historic pitching performance. On his birthday, he needed just 19 pitches to throw a complete game. When you get older, it's important to take care of your rickety old body, so make sure you ice the elbow after that lengthy performance.

Semifinal Canes scoring plays

First inning
Eli doubled and scored on Chace's single. Drew singled. Wes lined a three-run homer down the left field line. Macon singled and stole second. Jake singled. Macon and Jake both scored on a wild pitch.
Score after one inning: Canes 6, Outlaws 0

Second inning
Eli was hit and stole second. Gavin hit an RBI single and stole second. Chace lined an RBI double. He scored on Drew's single. Wes smacked an RBI double, then scored on Macon's single. Bryce walked. Asher lined an RBI single and stole second. A wild pitch scored Bryce. Eli was hit. Gavin cranked a walk-off two-run double.
Score after two innings: Canes 15, Outlaws 0

Pitching Performances

Andrew threw a 19-pitch complete game. That's pretty darn efficient.

Semifinal Web Gems

• You have to really time your web gems well in order to squeeze them in during a two-inning game, but the Canes pulled it off with an amazing relay from deep center to cut down a runner trying to stretch a double into a triple in the second. Eli went to the fence to retrieve a deep shot, fired in to Wes, who turned and threw a strike to Drew at third to slap on the tag.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H
Pittsburgh Outlaws	0	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	1
Canes	0	0	5	1	2	X	X	8	10