Spring Nationals Game 1: Big Blue 14, Blue Sox 1

After approximately 87 emails from Coach Adam, Big Blue was mightily relieved to finally take the field on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. and finally get on the field, where they could not receive email and therefore didn't have to open another message that read "Schedule change!"

The day's first opponent at the Top Gun Spring Nationals were the Blue Sox. Big Blue jumped out to four quick first-inning runs (in seven spring games together, the team is averaging 4.4 runs in the first frame) and never looked back, scoring in every inning and rolling to a 14-1 victory.

The victory set up a winner-take-all second game for the pool play top seed. The winner of the Big Blue-Rocky Mount game would play the winner of the opposite pool for the tournament title.

Game 1 Big Blue scoring plays
First inning
JT reached on a one-out fielder's choice. Gavin singled back up the middle and stretched it all the way to third when the Blue Sox outfield bobbled the ball. Chace singled in Gavin for the game's second run. Mason rapped a single to left that was again too hot to handle, and Chace came in to score while Mason raced to third. Jake doubled to center, scoring Mason to complete the scoring.
Score after one inning: Big Blue 4, Blue Sox 0

Second inning
Elias and Asher started the inning with back-to-back singles. A fielder's choice advanced Elias to third, and then Trey's RBI fielder's choice scored him.
Score after two innings: Big Blue 5, Blue Sox 0

Third inning
JT hit a line drive to right that he turned into two bases when it slipped through the Blue Sox outfield. Gavin drove him in with a single, then moved to second on Chace's single. A fielder's choice left runners at first and second with one out. Jake singled, and some aggressive baserunning by Chace plated another run. Timmy's single scored Mason with the inning's third run.
Score after three innings: Big Blue 8, Blue Sox 0

Fourth inning
Suitably enraged after allowing the Blue Sox to score a run in the top of the fourth, Big Blue posted the five-run limit in the bottom of the frame. It all happened with two outs, as Gavin had a two-RBI double that scored Trey and JT and moved all the way to third on the throw. Chace's single scored Gavin, and a Blue Sox outfield misadventure put Chace on second. He moved to third on Mason's shot to shortstop and another hustling baserunning play allowed him to score while the Blue Sox tried (unsuccessfully) to get the out at first. Jake's double scored Mason and ended the inning because of the five-run rule.
Score after four innings: Big Blue 13, Blue Sox 1

Fifth inning
Once again, it happened with two outs. This time, it was Joey's double to right that scored Elias with the inning's only run.
Score after five innings: Big Blue 14, Blue Sox 1

Game 1 Web Gems

• In an omen for what was to come later in the day with Big Blue's solid outfield play, Elias raced over to the line in left field to cut off what looked like a certain double, fielded it and fired it in to limit the hitter to a single.
• Big Blue turned the first of multiple unconventional double plays in the fourth. First, Gavin scooped up a grounder and fired to Timmy for the out. Then, Timmy came up throwing and zipped it home to Jake, who slapped the tag on an overeager runner trying to score from third on the fielder's choice.
• JT made a sprawling catch in left-center in the sixth.
• Jennifer made a textbook two-hand catch of a foul pop in the stands. However, she also received a 15-yard celebration penalty for her overexuberance after the catch. Spiking the ball in Giovanna's face and yelling, "In your face, Taylor!" while pulling out a Sharpie to sign the ball was probably a wee bit over the line. 

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Blue Sox	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	7
Big Blue	4	1	3	5	1	X	14	16