West Raleigh 7U @ West Raleigh 8U (0-11)Sundays first game for the 7U's were against the West Raleigh 8U Blue team. Although the score was similar to last week (0-11 loss), our defensive skills were much improved. After holding the 8U's to a scoreless first inning (2 outs were made when #14 Zach caught 2 fly balls hit to Left Center and the other by #2 Garret who cleanly fielded a hard hit ground ball at 1st).
Other great plays that were made in the first game were by #12 Sean who caught a fly ball in Left Center and laid down the first bunt of the 7U's season. #17 Ryan had a great game behind the plate and hustled at both catcher and pitcher. And although our bats never really heated up the first game, there were some great at bats by #98 Blake, #11 Sticks, #32 Grayson and #9 Payton.
The 7U team was much improved against their "Older Brother" team which ended up taking 1st in the Tournament this weekend going undefeated again this weekend.
West Raleigh 7U @ Southern Pitt (16-17)
And now the fun begins! Game 2 (3rd place game) for the 7U's was against Southern Pitt. And our boys made Southern Pitt earn it! After 2 extra innings Southern Pitt managed to squeak by the 7U's 16-17. There were so many great plays both offensively and defensively that I could barely keep up! (you might need to grab something to drink and make yourself comfortable before you continue on...this is going to be a long one) :)
#9 Payton starts the 7U's off with a TRIPLE up the third base side, #32 Grayson's single scores #9 Payton, #2 Garret singles to move runners over followed by #14 Zach's hit past second which scores #32. The final run of the inning scored when #6 Matt hits past the pitcher to score #2. The 7U's take a quick 3-0 lead.
The 7U's defense started the 1st inning strong with a great catch by #7 Jacob in Left Field for the 1st out soon followed by a catch at 3rd by #9 Payton, yet Southern Pitt still managed to score 5 runs that inning to end the first in the lead 3-5.
The 2nd inning got started when #11 "Sticks" DiMeo hit one back towards the pitcher for a single, #7 Jacob hit a single towards 1st and 2nd and was able to move the Sticks over. The hitting continued that inning with a hit by #12 Sean and #9 Payton. #9's hit to left field scored #12 and #7 and the 7U's tied it up 5-5. But again the Southern Pitt team battled right back and took a 5-10 lead at the bottom of the second. Although they were able to score 5 runs that inning the defensive hustle of #2 Garret was outstanding as he did a tremendous job that inning behind the plate.
And now...it is time again for the 7U's to battle back, one hit at a time, one base at a time. What we have here folks is a Ballgame!
#98 Blake starts us off with a single up the 3rd base side, followed by #14 Zach's single over the shortstops head. (we are just getting started) Then another single by #6 Matt back towards the pitcher. Bases loaded one out...#28 Brian is up and hits ANOTHER single which scored #14 Zach, which is followed by #11 "Sticks" hitting a single to score #6. #7 Jacob's hit scores #10 David, and #12 Sean's sacrifice fly to left field scored #28. And the 7U's enter the bottom of the 3rd 9-10.
The solid defense in the 3rd inning was key, the 1st out was made by #10 David when he made a great catch at pitcher, the 2nd out was a ground ball hit to 1st and a clean play made by #2 Garrett. The 7U's get out of the inning holding Southern Pitt 9-10.
In the fourth, we were not done showing what our 7U's could do in their first ever machine pitch tournament. #9 Payton starts us off again with a single back at the pitcher. #2 Garrett hits a fly ball to Right Center for a single and moves #32 Grayson to second. #98 Blake continues the hitting with a single and then the big bat of #14 Zach hits a double to score 2 runs. #6 Matt has a sacrifice fly to score #98, #10 David's single back at the pitcher moves runners over. #28 Brian's single scores #14 Zach and then the single by #11 "Sticks" scores #14 and West Raleigh 7U Blue gets their 5 runs for the 4th taking a 14-10 lead.
#7 Jacob fielded a ball hit to Right Center for the force out at 2nd for the 1st out of the bottom of the 4th, #14 Zach makes another great catch in Left Center for out #2, but then Southern Pitt ALSO scored their 5 runs in the inning to make it 14-15.
And now the defensive battle begins...
Top of the fifth, #12 Sean hit in the hole for a double, #9 Paytons hit over 2nd basemens head scores Sean from 2nd...score tied 15-15. Bottom of the 5th a RIDICULOUS unassisted double play by our man "G-Money" Grayson at pitcher after making a snagging catch and catching the runner at first who didn't tag up. Southern Pitt ends up scoring 1 run before #14 Zach makes another outstanding catch in left center for the 3rd out.
It is do our die time for the 7U's. Bats please don't fail us now...Well #14's bat didn't fail us as he hit a triple with one out. #6 Matt's single over the second basemen's head scored Zach and we are all tied up...Now can we hold them? Bottom of the 6th, here we come.
Southern Pitts big at bat is up, he hits a BOMB to center field, as his 3rd base coach waves him on and he takes the turn from 3rd towards home the throw comes in an lil' Seanie Murphy is there (1/2 the 8 year old's size) ready with the tag..."OUT!" Then #17 Ryan makes another great hustling play at pitcher when he catches a pop up for out #2, soon to follow by a clean play by #11 "Sticks" who fielded a hard ground ball between 1st and 2nd and throws to first for out #3.
EXTRA INNINGS 16-16
Unfortunately for the 7U's our bats stalled out, and even though our defense didn't (Southern Pitt had switched to bunting in 7th to get their men on base our defense was so strong) we had great plays by #17 who fielded a ground ball up the middle and got the force out at 2nd for the 2nd out and #2 Garrett who with such a solid game made a great catch for out #3 in the 7th to force yet another inning of play, our bats had cooled and the Southern Pitt defense did not.
Even though our defense did not really waiver at all in the 8th Southern Pitt had some great at bats and managed to score the final run to win the game 16-17.
This by far, after 4 season with West Raleigh was the best little league baseball game I have ever seen. When the final run crossed home, I was fighting back a few tears. They were not tears of sadness or disappointment but of pride. I wish everyone I know could have seen the way our 7U's didn't give up. They battled back over and over again in a game against kids that were bigger, older and more experienced then them. And as all the parents, grandparents, siblings and bystanders gave our boys a standing ovation I think they realized that what they had accomplished that game was greater then a simple win or loss. It was a game of determination and teamwork.
Way to go 7U's! Roll Blue Roll!
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