States...Game #1...8U Blue 21 Washington 3

Our team was sporting their pink West Raleigh All-Star uniforms on opening night of the 2012 8U Eastern NC State Championships. The tournament started at 2pm with games at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm. We were in the 6pm group against Washington. There was a thunderstorm delay, so first pitch for our game was at 7:40pm! A bit behind on the first night, but at least our team was able to play. We won in 4 innings...21-3.

Here's how we looked DEFENSIVELY...

1st inning:
Luke (third) to Lawson (second) for out #1
Double play...Chris caught a fly ball at pitcher and then threw the ball to Ian (first) since the runner couldn't get back in time to tag up! Great work Chris and Ian!

2nd inning:
Isaac (catcher) to Ian (first) after a bunt attempt for outs 1 and 2
Luke (third) to Ian (first) for the last out

3rd inning:
Kaden had an unbelieveable catch! Playing shortstop...he dove towards second base and slid while stopping the ball...Kaden jumped up and threw the ball to Ian at first base for the out. A-maz-ing!
Lukas caught a beautiful fly ball at right centerfield for the second out.
Kaden (shortstop) had an unassisted play at second base for the last out.

4th inning:
A double play to start the inning...Lawson caught a line drive at second, then threw the ball to Ian (at first) since the runner couldn't get back to first in time! Great work Lawson and Ian!
Mike (pitcher) to Ian (first) for the last out.

Now for the OFFENSE...

Kaden: 4-4 with a double and 1 RBI
Lawson: 4-4 with 3 RBI
Lukas: 1-4 with 1 RBI
Luke: 2-4 with a double and 3 RBI
Riley: 3-3 with 2 triples, 1 double and 3 RBI
Isaac: 3-4 with 3 RBI
Ian: 3-3 with a triple, double and 2 RBI
Chris: 1-2 with a double and 1 RBI
Mike: 1-1 with 1 RBI
Ben: 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI
Jackson: 1-2
Charley: 1-1 with a double
Logan: 2-3 with a triple and double

Next up for the 8U Blue...

11am game against the Sandhills and then a 3pm game against Southern Pitt!

ROLL BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

State Tournament!!!

That's right...the state tournament starts this Thursday!!! All 22 8U teams will meet in Wake Forest at The Factory. Here's the link: http://www.northwakebaseballcomplex.com/ and the bracket information: http://northwakebaseballcomplex.com/app/download/6914359404/State+Tournament+Schedule.pdf

We'll play Thursday night at 6pm against Washington on Field #3.

Friday's schedule:

11am vs Sandhills, 3pm vs Southern Pitt

Saturday's schedule:
10am vs Winter Park

Saturday afternoon will be the start of bracket play...single elimination!

ROLL BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC!

After playing in a quick 45 minute game this morning, we're headed into the championship game against the Coastal Scrappers. We won in 4 innings...10-2!

DEFENSIVELY...

1st inning:
Lawson (second) to Ian (first) for out #1
Luke had an unassisted play at third for the second out
Kaden (shortstop) to Luke (third) for the last out

2nd inning:
Kaden (shortstop) to Ian (first) for out #1
Ben caught a ball in left centerfield for out #2
Kaden (shortstop) to Ian (first) for the last out

3rd inning:
Lawson (second) to Ian (first) for out #1
Chris (pitcher) to Ian (first) for out #2

4th inning:
Lukas caught a fly ball at left centerfield for out #1
Kaden (shortstop) to Ian (first) for out #2
Lukas caught a fly ball to end the game at left centerfield for the last out

OFFENSIVELY...

Kaden: 1-2
Lawson: 1-2
Lukas: 2-2 with a triple, double and 1 RBI
Luke: 2-2 with a double and 2 RBI
Riley: 2-2 with a triple and 3 RBI
Isaac: 1-2 with 1 RBI
Ian: 1-2 with a double and 1 RBI
Chris: 2-2 with 1 RBI
Mike: 1-2
Jackson: 1-2
Logan: 0-1
Ben: 1-1 with a double
Charley: 0-1 with 1 RBI

Congratulations West Raleigh for making a great first impression in Myrtle Beach, with USSSA and with these three other teams! It was hot and you fought through it!

A huge thanks to the coaches and to the parents who helped in the dugout to make sure everyone stayed hydrated!

The last words from Sunday's umpire was, "I hate to see y'all leave!"

Now...let's ROLL BLUE AT THE ENC STATE TOURNAMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Game #3: WR 8U Blue 15 Coastal Crush 0

After a full breakfast at the hotel, the team headed over in the heat to the turf field for practice and then a game against the Coastal Crush. We won 15-0 in 3 innings!! Here's how we looked DEFENSIVELY...

1st inning:
Luke (third) to Ian (first) for out #1
Ian had an unassisted play at first for an out

2nd inning:
Lawson caught a fly ball at second for out #1
Mike caught an infield fly ball at pitcher for out #2
Kaden (shortstop) to Lawson (second) for the last out

3rd inning:
Isaac made a diving catch at first for an out
Logan (second) to Isaac (first) for the last out

OFFENSIVELY...

Kaden: 3-3
Lawson: 3-3 with a double and 1 RBI
Lukas: 2-2 with a triple, double and 4 RBI
Luke: 2-2 with a double and 3 RBI
Riley: 0-2
Isaac: 2-2 with a double and 1 RBI
Ian: 0-2
Chris: 2-2 with a double and 3 RBI
Mike: 1-2
Jackson: 2-2 with 1 RBI
Logan: 2-2
Ben: 2-2 with a double and 1 RBI
Charley: 2-2 with 1 RBI

Now we're headed into the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!

Game #2: WR 8U Blue 10 GP Angels 0

We played the Angels from Atlanta, Georgia and won 18-0 in just 3 1/2 innings. Here's how we looked DEFENSIVELY...

1st inning:
Lawson (second) to Ian (first) for out #1
Logan caught a fly ball at leftfield for the last out

2nd inning:
Mike (pitcher) to Ian (first) for out #1
Ian caught a fly ball at first for out #2

3rd inning:
Riley (pitcher) to Isaac (first) for an out

OFFENSIVELY...

Kaden: 3-3 with 1 RBI
Lawson: 3-3 with a double and 1 RBI
Lukas: 3-3 with a double and 2 RBI
Luke: 3-3 with a triple and 4 RBI
Riley: 3-3 with 3 RBI
Isaac: 1-2 with a double and 1 RBI
Ian: 1-1 with a double and 3 RBI
Chris: 2-2
Mike: 1-2 with a double and 1 RBI
Jackson: 1-2 with 1 RBI
Logan: 2-2 with a triple
Ben: 2-2 with 1 RBI
Charley: 1-2

Now the team is headed to the hotel, then pool and dinner by the pool!!! Good times!!!!!

Game #1...WR 8U Blue 11 Coastal Scrappers 3

Our first game ended up starting earlier than expected...at 1:42 and ended 58 minutes later. We won in 4 innings! Here's how we looked DEFENSIVELY...

1st inning:
Ian had an unassisted play at first for an out
Ben caught a fly ball at left centerfield for the last out

2nd inning:
Ben caught a fly ball at left centerfield for out #1
Kaden (shortstop) to Ian (first) for out #2
Lawson (second) to Ian (first) for out #3

3rd inning:
Ian had an unassisted play at first for out #1
Chris (pitcher) to Ian (first) for the last out

4th inning:
Chris (pitcher) to Ian (first) for out #1
Lawson (second) to Ian (first) for the second out
Kaden (shortstop) to Ian (first) for the last out

OFFENSIVELY...

Kaden: 2-3 with 1 RBI
Lawson: 3-3 with 2 RBI
Lukas: 2-2 with a homerun and 3 RBI
Luke: 2-2
Riley: 1-1 with 1RBI
Isaac: 2-2 with 1 RBI
Ian: 2-2
Chris: 1-2 with 1 RBI
Mike: 1-2 with a triple
Jackson: 2-2 with 1 RBI
Logan: 1-2
Ben: 2-2
Charley: 2-2 with 1 RBI

With a quick break...we're ready for our second and last game on the day!

We Were on FIRE!

It was HOT! HOT! HOT! West Raleigh 8U Blue was on FIRE and were HOT! What a weekend and more memories were made on the trip. Definitely proud of all 13 boys for playing through the above 100 degree temps and hats off to the coaches for leading the team in the heat and for being right there with them!

We took home the championship title going 4-0 in the tournament!

First time we played on a turf field!

Sporting the pink jerseys on day #1 at a beautiful turf ballpark!

Post game prayer

Taking down the tents...one of the ways our families try to stay cool.

Thanks Comfort Suites! :-) What a nice greeting in the main lobby!