Top Gun Pink Out Championship: 919 Nationals 13, Durham Indians 8

Despite the fact that the Durham Indians and 919 both play fairly consistently in and around the Triangle, Sunday's championship game marked the first meeting since the fall of 2012 (the infamous "This is travel ball!" game). This one was a little closer but ended the same way: with a 919 victory, as the Nationals took a 13-8 victory and the Top Gun Pink Out championship. The victory marks the second straight tournament title for 919.

The championship was powered by a huge nine-run fifth inning, which featured a pair of home runs, including a tie breaking grand slam from Elias. In all, the 919 offense generated 13 hits and had a runner in scoring position in every inning, putting constant pressure on the Indians defense.

Here's a happy view of the impending celebration after Eli's grand slam:

As would only be appropriate, the championship was celebrated at the finest establishment in all of Angier:

Championship 919 Nationals scoring plays

First inning

Gavin reached on a fielder's choice and stole second, then scored on Chace's two-out single.

Score after one-half inning: 919 Nationals 1, Durham Indians 0

Fourth inning

Banks worked a leadoff walk. Gavin ripped an RBI double. Chace lifted an RBI sacrifice fly.

Score after three and a half innings: 919 Nationals 3, Durham Indians 3

Fifth inning
Brady reached on a shot to left and stole second. JT doubled him home. Colin singled and took second on the throw. Asher singled to load the bases. Eli went deep to center for a fence-clearing grand slam. Bryce singled. Banks singled and stole second. Gavin crushed a three-run homer to left and then was greeted with the silent treatment in the dugout, prompting him to give air-high fives to imaginary teammates since his actual teammates were pretending to ignore him. Chace reached on a ball to third, then stole second, went to third on a fielder's choice and scored on Andrew's sacrifice fly.
Score after four and a half innings: 919 Nationals 12, Durham Indians 4

Sixth inning
Asher lined a one-out double, went to third on Elias' fielder's choice, then scored when the ball was thrown away.
Score after five and a half innings: 919 Nationals 13, Durham Indians 6

Pitching Performances

Bryce started and went two and a third tough innings, walking just one.

Chace relieved and fired one and two thirds innings of solid relief, working out of a tough spot in the third.

Asher finished it with two good innings of relief, including getting out of a two-on, none-out jam in the fifth.

Dugout Wisdom

There was a fairly extensive conversation led by Coach Fred focusing on the role of the third base coach and the fact that, you know, it's a pretty good idea for the players to actually watch the third base coach and do what he says. Once the players returned to the dugout, they were talking about the role of the coaches, and Brady pointed out, "The first base coach is there to hold your protective gear after you get on base." Keep up the valuable work, Coach Sean!

Championship Web Gems

• After reaching on a single in the second, the runner was gunned down trying to steal second after a solid throw from Asher and a great tag from Colin.
• Chace stayed with a hard two-hopper to third in the second, then threw across for the out.
• Elias ended the all-web gem second inning with a diving catch in center.
• Elias made another web gem play in the third, running down a ball in the gap to get the out.
• The 919 defense end the fourth with a double play, as Colin speared a line drive, then flipped to Gavin at second to double off the runner.
• Bryce picked off a runner getting an aggressive secondary lead from first to end the fifth.

Championship line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
919 Nationals	1	0	0	2	9	1	13	13
Durham Indians	1	0	2	1	2	2	8	9