But enough about Coach Eric. Big Blue also managed to get the win, 19-0, in the final game of pool play.
The game was shortened to three innings due to the run limit, but even in the shortened time frame, every player on the roster got at least one hit. Even more impressively, Big Blue managed to hit for the cycle in the first inning--Bryce homered, Gavin tripled, Joey doubled and pretty much everyone else singled. Even with the run limit, everyone also scored at least one run.
But the main storyline was the incredible heroism of Coach Eric. He sustained a ghastly injury on his pitching hand. Perhaps unwisely, the umpires did not choose to check his glove to see if perhaps the sandpaper he keeps in there had caused the cut.
As you would expect, Big Blue immediately rallied around their fallen coach, showing the heart, compassion and sportsmanship you would expect from such a fine collection of upstanding individuals. Basically, it was just like Louisville when Kevin Ware was hurt. It included:
- In true West Raleigh fashion, Coach Sean and Coach Kevin took a knee to show their concern for their injured teammate.
- Coach Ken kindly offered, "Do I need to call a whaaaaaaambulance?"
- The loyal Big Blue rooting section was heard to yell, "Can you stop talking about the cut and start pitching?"
It was truly a hearwarming display. But even more valiant was the toughness showed by Coach Eric, who never missed a single pitch on the way to his second straight complete (well, kind of) game. In terms of incredible sports comebacks, I would rate it just slightly ahead of the Michael Jordan flu game and just slightly behind Curt Schilling's bloody sock. If you missed the webcam broadcast, you can probably best picture it with this scene from the Karate Kid, except instead of, "Daniel LaRusso's going to FIGHT?" the crowd was shouting, "Coach Eric is going to PITCH?"
The win secured the top seed for Big Blue. The next game will be at 2:30 against the winner of Porter Ridge-Carolina Havoc. The winner of that game advances to the championship game at 5:30.
Game 2 Big Blue scoring plays
First inning
Bryce started the scoring with a homer to deep left. Gavin followed with a triple to center, then scored on Chace's single to left. Ben singled Chace to second, then Mason drove in Chace with a single. Jake singled to load the bases, and then Asher punched a single up the middle that scored Ben. Timmy ripped a shot off the machine that moved everyone up a base and scored Mason, and then Joey blasted a drive to deep right that scored two, invoking the seven-run rule.
Score after one-half inning: Big Blue 7, Mooresville Legends 0
Second inning
If Big Blue ever starts getting the leadoff man on base, they might really do some damage. With one out, Trey tripled to center. Bryce's single scored him, and then Gavin doubled in Bryce. Chace picked up an RBI single, Ben ripped a shot to third that put runners on first and second, and Mason smoked a bullet to the right side that eventually scored two and allowed Mason to go all the way to third.
Score after one and a half innings: Big Blue 12, Mooresville Legends 0
Third inning
Timmy decided he had had enough of not getting the leadoff man on base, so he singled. Joey tripled him home, then scored on Elias's single. Now moving base-to-base, Trey, Bryce, Gavin and Chace put together four consecutive singles. Ben, Mason and Jake collected the final three RBI of the inning, once again enabling Big Blue to reach the seven-run limit.
Score after two and a half innings: Big Blue 19, Mooresville Legends 0
Game 2 Web Gems
- In the second, Chace made a nice scoop of a low throw to get the force at first.
| Game 2 line score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H |
| Big Blue | 7 | 5 | 7 | X | X | X | 19 | 22 |
| Mooresville Legends | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | X | X | 0 | 0 |
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