Top Gun Batting Helmet Semifinals: 919 Nationals 8, Granville Storm 0

In one of the strongest and deepest pitching performances of the young 10U season, five 919 pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout, propelling the Nationals into the championship game with an 8-0 win over the Granville Storm. The game was shortened to five innings due to the run rule.

Only two Storm runners reached third base all afternoon, and both were erased by solid defensive plays. It was a prototypical example of 919 pitching and defense, as the defense made just two inconsequential errors.

The victory put the Nationals in the championship game for the second straight tournament, this time with a matchup against the Carolina Quick Strike.

Semifinal Nationals scoring plays

First inning

Bryce led off with a single, stole second, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on Chace’s one-out double. Chace went to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a wild pitch.

Score after one inning: 919 Nationals 2, Storm 0

Second inning

Ben drew a two-out walk and went to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. Elias beat out a ball to shortstop and Ben came all the way around to score.

Score after two innings: 919 Nationals 3, Storm 0

Fourth inning

Banks reached leading off, then stole second. Andrew reached on a shot to second, and a wild pitch moved up both runners. JT walked to load the bases. Brady crushed a two-run double, and then JT scored on a wild pitch. Ben walked and stole second. A fielder’s choice from Eli scored Brady and moved Ben to third, and then Ben scored on a wild pitch.

Score after four innings: 919 Nationals 8, Storm 0

Pitching Performances

Banks threw a 1-2-3 first.

Andrew fanned a pair in a scoreless second.

Brady had the Brady Inning (see below) in the third.

Chace threw a scoreless fourth.

Asher closed it out with a scoreless fifth.

Semifinal Web Gems

•    Gavin made a leaping catch going up the middle in the first inning.

•    Brady showed extreme selfishness in the third inning by getting every out. Two of those were great plays off the mound, as he raced over to the third base line to field a swinging bunt and throw to first, then speared a line drive up the middle. He finished off the Brady Inning by fielding a pop fly. The rest of the defense then took a lap to stay loose.

•    The game ended on a heads-up play by Banks, who chased down a ball that had been thrown past first and threw to Joey at the plate, who tagged the runner for the final out.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Granville Storm	0	0	0	0	0	X	0	1
919 Nationals	2	1	0	5	X	X	8	5