Top Gun Cary Game 1: 919 Nationals 8, OC Crushers 0

This is the kind of game when it’s good to sit in the dugout so that you have something to blog about. The 8-0 win on Saturday morning over the Orange Country Crushers at Thomas Brooks Park wasn’t especially eventful. The main storyline was once again the 919 pitching, as three hurlers combined on a one-hitter and walked just one. Only two Crushers hitters reached as far as second base.

That meant some of the in-game entertainment had to come from the always-entertaining 9- and 10-year olds. Like, for example, this exchange as they watched a new Crushers pitcher warm up in the middle innings:

Gavin: “This guy is the exact same as the last pitcher, except faster.”

Andrew: “So he’s not the same at all.”

Gavin: “Well, right.”

That’s your 919 Nationals, folks.

Game 1 Nationals scoring plays

First inning

Bryce drew a leadoff walk and stole second and third. Elias walked and stole second. Gavin ripped a two-run single to left.

Score after one inning: 919 Nationals 2, Crushers 0

Second inning

Joey led off with a single and stole second. A fielder’s choice moved him to third. Ben walked and stole second. Chace cracked a two-run single and took third on some defensive adventures combined with hard running. Bryce singled in Chace, then stole second and third. Elias walked and stole second. Gavin’s shot to third scored Bryce, and then Elias scored on a wild pitch.

Score after two innings: 919 Nationals 7, Crushers 0

Third inning

Chace ripped a one-out single. Bryce singled, and then Chace scored on a wild pitch.

Score after three and a half innings: 919 Nationals 8, Crushers 0

Pitching Performances

Joey threw a hitless first two innings.

JT was perfect in the third and fourth.

Ben finished it up with a scoreless fifth.

Game 1 Web Gems

•  Playing first base, Asher sprinted over near the fence to make a nice play on a pop foul in the first.
• Elias made a good aggressive play by fielding a spinning ground ball in front of the first base bag in the third to make sure he got it before it went foul.
• Ben ended the game with a textbook example of Coach Kevin’s favorite drill, PFP, as he bounced off the mound, fielded a grounder and made a good flip to Elias at first.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
OC Crushers	0	0	0	0	0	X	0	1
919 Nationals	2	5	1	0	X	X	8	7