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
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.
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
|
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