Ripken Game 1: 919 Nationals 20, EOBA 0

In the first-ever international matchup for 919/West Raleigh Blue, 919 took a 20-0 win over the East Ontario Baseball Association All-Stars in a game shortened to four innings by the run rule.

The game, which was scheduled to start at 3:00, actually began at more like 5:30 after a day full of rain in Myrtle Beach. And while the teams weren't exactly evenly matched, it was a lot of fun to watch EOBA play--they had driven 16 hours one way just for this tournament but seemed thrilled to do, well, pretty much everything.

The teams capped the day by taking a group photo, a nice memory from the first-ever game against a team from another country:

Game 1 919 Nationals scoring plays

First inning

Bryce walked and stole second. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a wild pitch. Banks walked and hustled all the way to second when the ball wasn't retrieved quickly enough. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Gavin's double. Gavin stole third and scored on Chace's sacrifice fly. Ben walked and stole second. Wild pitches moved him to third and then scored him. With two outs, Brady walked. He went to second and third on wild pitches, then scored on JT's single. JT stole second and scored on Colin's single.

Score after one inning: 919 Nationals 6, EOBA 0

Second inning

Elias singled and stole second. Bryce powered an RBI single. Bryce stole second and then hustled all the way home on Banks' groundout. 

Score after two innings: 919 Nationals 8, EOBA 0

Third inning

Brady lined a one-out single and stole second. JT singled. Colin walked. Asher hit an RBI fielder's choice and then stole second. A wild pitch scored Colin and moved Asher to third, who then scored on another wild pitch. Elias walked and stole second before moving to third on a wild pitch. Bryce walked and stole second. Banks singled home a pair. Gavin singled. Chace singled in Banks. A wild pitch scored Gavin.

Score after three innings: 919 Nationals 15, EOBA 0

Fourth inning

Brady worked a one-out walk. JT was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch moved up both runners. Colin's fly ball fell in right field, scoring two. Asher singled in Colin. Asher stole second and went to third on an errant throw. Bryce singled him home, then stole second and third. He scored on a throwing error, once again leaving Banks at the plate when the walk-off run crossed.

Score after four and a half innings: 919 Nationals 20, EOBA 0




Pitching Performances

Ben started and went two perfect innings.

JT struck out the side in the third.

Gavin faced the minimum in the fourth.

Dugout wisdom

Credit Coach Kevin for some quick thinking. With EOBA in the field defensively, their coach yelled, "Know the situation!" Coach Kevin quickly replied, "Your parents went away for a winter vacation."

OK, kids, here you go:

If this section was called "Pregame Wisdom," there definitely would've been something in here about the Squatty Potty. Luckily, this section isn't called Pregame Wisdom, so never mind.

Game 1 Web Gems

•   919 turned in an error-free performance, although seven of the 12 outs were recorded by strikeout.

•   The highlight of the defensive performance came in the fourth inning. With the first EOBA runner of the day on first base, Gavin showed off a quick pickoff move and then the 919 infield smoothly executed a rundown to nab him between first and second.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
EOBA	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	1
919 Nationals	6	2	7	5	X	X	20	12