The final tally was 8-0, but Drew gave himself all the runs he would need in the bottom of the first, when he bombed a two run-dinger that was more like a daaaaaaaaaaanger. From there, he took over on the mound. He kindly allowed Supper a single hit in the first and another hit in the second. After that, he finished the game retiring the final 14 batters he faced. Some key stats:
To get those 14 outs, he needed just 53 pitches. Of those 53, only 13 were balls.
No Supper runner reached third base. Only one reached second base.
The ball left the infield just twice in the final four innings.
He went to three balls on just one hitter in the game, and got him to fly out to center on a 3-1 pitch.
He threw 66 pitches in the game, and that number would've been even lower if the final two hitters hadn't seen 14 pitches. In other words, he needed 52 pitches to get through five and a third innings.
Of the 66 pitches he threw, only 12 were from the stretch.
Credit the defense for playing an error-free game, making every play flawlessly, but this was a day when the West Raleigh pitching just overwhelmed the opponent for six innings.
The victory gave this group its fifth consecutive state championship and means they will move on to the Southeast Regionals in July in Williamsburg. It also meant I had to be mature and resist using the #oneforthethumb hashtag on Twitter and Instagram. But I was thinking it.
Championship 11U Blue scoring plays
First inning
Chace lined a two-out single and scored when Drew crushed a ball to center that was last seen rolling across Pinehurst No. 2.
Score after one inning: 11U Blue 2, Supper Optimist 0
Third inning
Gavin reached on a fielder's choice. He raced to third on Chace's single and scored on an error.
Score after three innings: 11U Blue 3, Supper Optimist 0
Score after three innings: 11U Blue 3, Supper Optimist 0
Fifth inning
Bryce walked. Gavin doubled. Chace was intentionally walked, meaning West Raleigh had to be content sending up Drew, who hadn't done anything at all other than hit a titanic two-run homer and dominate on the mound. So he hit a two-run double just to make sure he contributed. Banks lifted an RBI double. Drew scored on a passed ball. Ben singled home Banks.
Score after five innings: 11U Blue 8, Supper Optimist 0
Pitching Performances
Drew.
Drew.
Drew.
Dugout wisdom
In the bottom of the fifth, as West Raleigh put up a five-spot, Drew asked if he was going back to the mound in the top of the sixth. At that point, he had retired 11 straight batters on just 36 pitches. So Coach Kevin's response was direct and to the point:
"Does a bear poop in the woods and wipe with a fluffy white rabbit?"
The answer, if you're wondering, is yes.
Drew.
Drew.
Dugout wisdom
In the bottom of the fifth, as West Raleigh put up a five-spot, Drew asked if he was going back to the mound in the top of the sixth. At that point, he had retired 11 straight batters on just 36 pitches. So Coach Kevin's response was direct and to the point:
"Does a bear poop in the woods and wipe with a fluffy white rabbit?"
The answer, if you're wondering, is yes.
Championship Web Gems
- In one stretch through the first and second innings, Banks made three straight outs in right field.
- It's hard to make web gems when the guy pitching for your team isn't allowing any hard-hit balls.
Championship line score
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
R
|
H
|
Supper Optimist
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
WR 11U Blue
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
5
|
X
|
8
|
9
|
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