Winter World Series Semifinals: Carolina Quick Strike 7, 919 Nationals 6

An impressive rally fell just one run short, as the Carolina Quick Strike ended 919's fall season with a 7-6 win in the Winter World Series.

There were two very fun things about the semifinal game. First: it was played at the ridiculously fancy stadium in Wilson, featuring actual dugouts, a grandstand with actual seats, and a grass infield.

And second, after a slight debacle of a first inning, and some sleepy middle innings, the Nationals came alive in the final two frames and turned it into a very good baseball game.

One of the fun things about being a quality team is the opportunity to consistently face the other team's best pitching. That was the case again for the second straight game, as the Quick Strike threw their ace, who was very effective in a five-inning, 101-pitch performance. He cruised through the first three innings without allowing a hit, but then Ben finally cracked the shell with a leadoff double in the fourth. That set the stage for what became a furious rally in the fifth and sixth, as the Nats--after getting just one hit in the first four innings--pounded out five hits over the final two innings. That included pawing back from a 5-1 deficit entering the fifth to close within a single run in the final inning.

Ultimately, the comeback came just a little short. That meant that everyone was totally devastated and never wanted to think about baseball or see each other again, as this scene from the postgame illustrates. Oh, wait a second...

Semifinal Nationals scoring plays

Fourth inning

Ben smacked the first hit of the night, a leadoff double. Gavin's fielder's choice moved him to third, and Chace's sacrifice fly scored him.

Score after four innings: Quick Strike 5, 919 Nationals 1

Fifth inning

Brady singled and stole second. JT walked. With two outs, Joey was hit by a pitch, loaded the bases for Asher, who came through with a two-run single that included a great slide at the plate by JT.

Score after five innings: Quick Strike 5, 919 Nationals 3

Sixth inning

Ben worked a leadoff walk. Gavin singled. A passed ball moved up both runners. Banks finished off an eight-pitch at-bat with a two-run double. Brady ripped an RBI double.

Score after six innings: Quick Strike 7, 919 Nationals 6

Pitching Performances

Banks had to pitch through some defensive hiccups in the first.

Joey allowed just one hit in two and a third innings of work.

Asher threw an inning and a third of scoreless relief.

Gavin pitched a strong final inning and a third.

Semifinal Web Gems

• More lefty mojo from Asher, who entered in relief with runners on the corners in the fourth. That prompted the Quick Strike first base coach to walk over to the Quick Strike third base coach and say, "They put this guy in to pick off a runner." And...that was exactly right, because Asher's move fooled the runner on first, who broke for second. Chace took the throw at first and fired home, where Ben put the tag on the runner coming from third to get the out.
• Brady made a momentum-building sprawling catch in right field to end the fifth and save a pair of runs.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Quick Strike	4	0	0	1	0	2	7	8
919 Nationals	0	0	0	1	2	3	6	6

Winter World Series Quarterfinals: 919 Nationals 10, Rock Solid Red 0

In a game in which the 919 offense consisted mostly of taking advantage of miscues, the Nationals won a 10-0 decision over Rock Solid Red in the Winter World Series quarterfinals. The game, a rematch of the previous day's pool play game, was shortened to four innings by the run rule.

On this day, though, Rock Solid was pitching perhaps the hardest thrower that 919 has seen this fall. The Nationals got just one hit off him, but still knocked him out after two innings thanks to patient at-bats that resulted in six walks, a hit batter, and three wild pitches. The Nats led 5-0 after those two innings and that was plenty to support three pitchers who combined on a shutout.

The final totals showed a relatively meager four hits for 919, but they also earned eight walks, while National pitchers issued just two free passes. Rock Solid didn't advance a runner to third base until the final inning, and he was erased when Bryce ended the frame with a strikeout looking.

The victory advanced 919 to the semifinals against Carolina Quick Strike.

Quarterfinal Nationals scoring plays

First inning

Bryce walked and stole second. Ben walked. A wild pitch moved up both runners. Another wild pitch scored Bryce and advanced Ben to third. Gavin walked and stole second. Chace collected an RBI fielder's choice. Another wild pitch scored Gavin.

Score after one inning: 919 Nationals 3, Rock Solid Red 0

Second inning

Joey drew a one-out walk. A throwing error by the pitcher moved him to second. Asher was hit by a missile pitch. Ben smoked a clutch two-out, two-run double.

Score after two innings: 919 Nationals 5, Rock Solid Red 0

Third inning

Chace worked a leadoff walk and stole second. Brady singled and took second on the throw. An errant throw by the catcher scored Chace, and then Andrew lined a two-out RBI single.

Score after three innings: 919 Nationals 7, Rock Solid Red 0

Fourth inning
Joey and Asher walked. Bryce smoked it through the left side, scoring Joey. Chace went walk-off with a single that scored Asher and Bryce.
Score after four innings: 919 Nationals 10, Rock Solid Red 0

Pitching Performances

Chace started and went two scoreless innings in his return to the mound.

Andrew fired a hitless third.

Bryce closed it out with a hitless fourth.

Quarterfinal Web Gems

• Andrew made a sweet backhanded play in the gap in right-center in the first that saved at least one run, probably two.
• Chace charged off the mound to make a solid pickup on a ball in front of the plate in the second, and then Brady made a smooth scoop at first to finish the play and get the out.
• JT flashed some lightning-quick hands on a weirdly spinning bouncer to third in the third, then made a strong throw to get the out. 

Quarterfinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Rock Solid Red	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	3
919 Nationals	3	2	2	3	X	X	10	4

Winter World Series Game 2: 919 Nationals 17, Rock Solid Red 8

With the umpires in a big hurry to get the games in so they could sample the Red Oak nightlife, game two of pool play began almost immediately after game one. Although this one had some occasional baserunning adventures, the Nationals still managed to generate enough offense to secure a 17-8 win (or maybe 17-7, depending on who you believe). 

Once again, 919 had to play from behind. After taking a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, the Nats allowed seven runs in the bottom of the frame--easily the most runs allowed in a single inning this fall. But they quickly tied it back up in the top of the second, then put up their own seven-spot in the top of the fifth to put the game away.

Just like in the early game, it was the 919 defense that helped stretch the lead, including a couple of terrific outfield relays (maybe practice helps after all). 

The victory left the Nationals 2-0 in pool play and awaiting tonight's seeding and game times. 

Game 2 Nationals scoring plays

First inning

With one out, Elias was hit by a pitch (this would be a theme). He stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Gavin singled him home, then stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Chace walked and stole second. With two outs, Banks picked up an RBI single. Chace scored on a balk, and then Ben smashed an RBI double.

Score after one-half inning: 919 Nationals 4, Rock Solid Red 0

Second inning

Joey walked and stole second. Asher dropped a bunt single and Joey came all the way around to score, with Asher taking second on the throw. Bryce walked. Two successive wild pitches scored both Asher and Bryce.

Score after one and a half innings: 919 Nationals 7, Rock Solid Red 7

Fourth inning

Bryce went left side to reach with one out. He stole second and third. Elias was hit by a pitch (see?) and stole second. Gavin singled in Bryce. Chace’s fielder’s choice scored Elias. Brady doubled home Gavin.

Score after two and a half innings: 919 Nationals 10, Rock Solid Red 8

Fifth inning

Banks and Ben led off with back-to-back doubles. JT singled to right and took second on an unsuspecting defense. Andrew powered an RBI single, then stole second. Joey ripped an RBI single, then stole second. Asher singled, scoring Joey. Bryce was hit by a pitch. Elias was…wait for it…hit by a pitch. Gavin beat out a fielder’s choice that scored Asher. Chace cranked a two-run double.

Score after four and a half innings: 919 Nationals 17, Rock Solid Red 8

Pitching Performances

Ben got two quick outs but then ran into some alleged control issues.

Elias threw some solid relief and then faced the minimum in the second.

Gavin fired two great innings in the middle.

JT finished it out with a barrage of strikes in the fifth.

Game 2 Web Gems

• Elias picked off a runner in the second, and Chace and Gavin teamed up to record the out in a rundown.
• The next hitter crushed what looked like a sure double to center, but Brady went back to the fence to pick it up, hit Gavin as the cutoff man, and Gavin threw to Andrew at second to erase the hitter.
• Another good relay from center in the fourth. With a runner on first, the ball was again smoked to center. Elias went back to get it, made a tremendous throw back into the infield, and Gavin cut it off near the mound and fired to Chace covering third to get the runner.
• JT made a ridiculous diving play after racing off the pitcher’s mound to snag a pop foul in the fifth.
• Joey hosed a runner trying to steal second later that inning.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
919 Nationals	4	3	0	3	7	X	17	14
Rock Solid Red	7	0	1	0	0	X	8	9

Winter World Series Game 1: 919 Nationals 10, Elite Gone Mad 2

The Top Gun Winter World Series began play in Antarctica on Saturday morning with a 10-2 win over Elite Gone Mad. The game was shortened to five innings by the run rule.

With this being the signature fall Top Gun event, pregame was of course held at the most luxurious facilities:

EGM scored two quick runs in the top of the first without a hit. But they would get only five baserunners over the next four innings, and two of those were erased by web gem-caliber defensive plays. The 919 defense did not commit an error and did not allow a runner past second base after the first inning.

While the offense wasn’t exactly booming, with “only” seven hits, it was opportunistic, including 11 stolen bases.

Game 1 Nationals scoring plays

First inning

With one out, Elias reached on a shot through the left side. He stole second, went to third on Gavin’s fly to right, and scored on a wild pitch.

Score after one inning: Elite Gone Mad 2, 919 Nationals 1

Second inning

With one out, Brady launched a double off the fence. JT’s shot to right wasn’t played cleanly, scoring Brady. A wild pitch moved JT to third, and Andrew walked. When ball four got by the catcher, JT scored and Andrew hustled all the way to second. Joey smacked an RBI double. He stole third and scored on Asher’s fielder’s choice.

Score after two innings: 919 Nationals 5, Elite Gone Mad 2

Third inning

Gavin worked a leadoff walk and stole second. He moved to third on a fielder’s choice from Chace, then scored on a two-out single by Ben. Ben stole second and scored on Brady’s second straight double.

Score after three innings: 919 Nationals 7, Elite Gone Mad 2

Fourth inning

Andrew singled, stole second and third, and scored on a wild pitch.

Score after four innings: 919 Nationals 8, Elite Gone Mad 2

Fifth inning

Elias led off with a single. He stole second and third. With one out, Chace walked. Elias scored on a first-and-third play, and Chace moved up. Banks ended it with a walkoff single that scored Chace.

Score after five innings: 919 Nationals 10, Elite Gone Mad 2

Pitching Performances

Banks got the unenviable task of starting in the sub-arctic temperatures.

Andrew threw well in relief and fired a pair of hitless innings.

Joey closed it out with two scoreless innings.

Game 1 Web Gems

• Brady made a very nice running catch in right field in the first inning, ranging all the way over to the line to make the play.
• With a runner on second in the third, Elias came in on a sinking liner, made the shoestring catch, then fired to second for the inning-ending double play.
• Asher made a nice running catch on the left field line in the fourth.
• Andrew came charging in on a would-be single to right and made a strong throw to first to instead get the force and end the fourth.
• Now new and improved with two hands, Chace made a good stop of a grounder on the third-base line in the fifth, then made a strong throw all the way across the diamond to get the out.
• Asher threw to Chace to nab a runner trying to steal third in the fifth.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Elite Gone Mad	2	0	0	0	0	X	2	2
919 Nationals	1	4	2	1	2	X	10	7

Top Gun Cary Championship: 919 Nationals 12, HYAA Elite 2

Here is a list of things the 11 9- and 10-year-olds that make up the 919 Nationals are good at:

Hitting.
Throwing.
Pitching.
Fielding.
Running.
Clash of Clans.
Singing and dancing in the party van.

OK, now here is a list of things the 919 Nationals are not good at:

Tying their baseball shoes.

Therefore you have the following scene from during Sunday night's 12-2 championship game win over the HYAA Elite Hawks, as Coach Sean ordered everyone to tie their shoes. "Everybody tie your shoes," he said from the third-base coaching box after yet another player had to do some shoelace work in the batter's box. "If they're already tied, untie them and tie them again."

That was pretty much the only hiccup in Sunday's second win. HYAA Elite struck first, taking a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the second, but then 919 blew the game open with a ten-run bottom of the second. That inning was highlighted by perhaps the loudest dugout of the entire season, with a mixture of cheering, singing, dancing, shoe-tying and pretty much everything else you can think of. The inning featured the One-Armed Bandit coming through yet again:


The game was shortened to four innings due to both the run rule and to the fact that Eskimos were actually building igloos in the outfield. The Nats celebrated the win with the traditional championship selfie:

But they also received an even more valuable prize. In addition to the title selfie, they also got some vintage hats that were apparently pulled out of the Top Gun 1989 time capsule. Let's put it this way: the hats would go nicely with a pair of parachute pants and/or tight-rolled acid-washed blue jeans.

Championship Nationals scoring plays

Second inning

Bahhhnks/Bonks led off with a walk and stole second. Brady walked. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base. Joey walked. Andrew singled home Banks. Elias and Asher collected back to back RBI walks. Chace dropped in a two-run double. Bryce lined an RBI single, then stole second. JT walked. A wild pitch scored Chace and put Bryce on third and JT on second. Gavin blasted a two-run triple. Ben scored Gavin with an RBI fielder's choice.

Score after two innings: 919 Nationals 10, Hawks 1

Third inning

Andrew demolished a leadoff double, stole third, and scored on an RBI groundout from Elias.

Score after three innings: 919 Nationals 11, Hawks 2

Fourth inning

With one out, Gavin doubled. Ben went walk-off for the second straight game with an RBI double.

Score after three innings: 919 Nationals 12, Hawks 2

Pitching Performances

Banks went two strong innings to start the game.

Brady threw a solid third.

Joey finished it with a 1-2-3 fourth.

Championship Web Gems

• Two great pickoffs from Bahhhhnks/Bonks, with one coming in the first and one in the second.
• Give Coach Sean credit for a web gem after he made an appropriate appeal to get a runner leaving second early in the first.
• Andrew got a good break and came charging in to grab a sinking liner in center in the third.
• Gavin made a terrific catch in deep left-center to take away a would-be double in the fourth, went sprawling to make the play, then celebrated by showing everyone the ball.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
HYAA Hawks	1	0	1	0	X	X	2	3
919 Nationals	0	10	1	1	X	X	12	9

Top Gun Cary Semifinals: 919 Nationals 11, Rubber Arm Rockets 7

I'm not saying Sunday's semifinal game started late, but let's just put it this way: this photo of Hardy and Patsy, Bryce's grandparents, was actually taken at the scheduled starting time of 3 p.m.:

(Side note: that actually is Hardy and Patsy in sixth grade, which means she is an even more amazing lady than you thought to have been putting up with him for even longer than you imagined)

When the game finally began, 919 was outhit for the second time in two weekends...and won for the second time in two weekends, prevailing 11-7 after a four-run bottom of the fifth sealed the victory in a game shortened to five innings by the time limit.

The game was not exactly an artistic display. As Coach Sean told the team after the game, "You fell asleep in the middle of the game, and you almost let them steal it from you." The Nationals had a 7-3 lead going into the top of the fifth, but ran into some defensive issues and watched the Rockets tie the score.

But that just set the stage for a fun bottom of the fifth, which was capped when Ben cracked what turned out to be a walk-off RBI double. Of course, walk-offs are nothing new to Ben. After all, he's been doing it ever since 7U.

The victory moved 919 into the tournament championship game against the HYAA Hawks, with the game scheduled to start at midnight or somewhere thereabouts.

Semifinal Nationals scoring plays

First inning

Bryce took a leadoff walk and went to third on an errant pickoff throw. Elias singled him home, then stole second and third. Ben's fielder's choice scored Eli.

Score after one inning: 919 Nationals 2, Rockets 2

Second inning

JT reached on a shot through the infield, then stole second and third. Joey's fielder's choice scored JT. Banks ripped a two-out single and went all the way to third when the ball was misplayed. Chace singled home Banks, then stole second and third. Bryce walked and stole second. A wild pitch scored Chace and sent Bryce to third, where he eventually scored on another wild pitch.

Score after two innings: 919 Nationals 6, Rockets 2

Fourth inning

JT doubled, went to third on a fielder's choice, and scored on a wild pitch.

Score after three innings: 919 Nationals 7, Rockets 3

Fifth inning
Banks walked and stole second. A fielder's choice sent him to third, and Bryce's shot through the right side scored him. Bryce stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Elias walked and stole second. Gavin singled home Bryce. Andrew's fielder's choice scored Elias. Ben's RBI double turned out to be a walk-off when the time limit expired.
Score after five innings: 919 Nationals 11, Rockets 7

Pitching Performances

Elias started and went two strong innings.

Andrew threw two hitless innings. 

Banks cleaned up a mess in the fifth.

Semifinal Web Gems

•    Brady led off the game with a Web Gem, making a nice backhand scoop of a low throw at first base to get the first out.

•    Gavin and Bryce teamed up to end the second inning with a double play. With a runner on second and one out, Gavin snared a line drive and flipped to Bryce covering the bag to double off the runner.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Rubber Arm Rockets	2	0	0	1	4	X	7	8
919 Nationals	2	4	0	1	4	X	11	6