Top Gun NC State Games Game 1: WR 11U Blue 10, GBI 12U 0

Summer officially began, as 11U Blue made their summer debut in a 12U tournament at Thomas Brooks in Cary. The opener was a crisp one, as Drew and Asher combined on a perfect game and Blue needed just an hour to post a 10-0 victory over GBI in a game shortened to four innings by the run rule.

While the offense was prolific, the big story came on the mound, where Drew and Asher needed just 43 pitches in those perfect four innings. To put that into perspective, the GBI pitcher threw 31 pitches in the second inning alone. With 11 batters in the order, only one GBI hitter got more than one at-bat, and not only were they perfect, but the two 11U Blue hurlers went to only two three-ball counts. 

Of course, to have a perfect game, you also have to have solid defense. While Drew was pitching, most of the defense consisted of standing around and saying, "Nice job, Drew!" but overall, all seven of the balls put in play were handled flawlessly. 

As a reminder, we're on Instagram as well as Twitter now. A shot from today:

That kind of day. 2-0 day for 11U Blue playing 12U in Cary. #rollblue

A photo posted by West Raleigh 11u (@westraleigh11u) on Jun 4, 2016 at 11:23am PDT

Game 1 11U Blue scoring plays

First inning

Banks smacked a two-out single and stole second. Chace singled him home and then took second on the throw. Drew drove in Chace with a single, then hustled all the way around the bases when the ball got through the outfield. Andrew doubled and scored on JT's single.

Score after one inning: 11U Blue 4, GBI 0

Second inning

Asher singled and went to second on a passed ball. Bryce singled. Asher scored on a wild pitch. Jake singled and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Gavin singled in Bryce. Banks drove in a run with a fielder's choice. Gavin scored on Chace's grounder. Chace stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Drew walked and stole second. Chace scored on a wild pitch, then Drew scored on a wild pitch.

Score after two innings: 11U Blue 10, GBI 0

Pitching Performances

Drew and Asher threw two innings each of a four-inning perfect game. Each pitcher allowed just one ball out of the infield, with Drew mostly doing it with strikeouts (five of them) and Asher getting ground balls (five of them).

Dugout wisdom
With one out in the third inning, Andrew tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Are we pitching a perfect game?"

Well, yes, but the third is usually a little early to call it. No matter, one out later Bryce piped up, "Aren't we pitching a no-hitter?"

11U Blue is apparently immune to the dugout jinx.

Game 1 Web Gems

• Banks made a leaping stab of a high throw to first to retire the leadoff man in the third inning.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
GBI	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	0
WR 11U Blue	4	6	0	X	X	X	10	9