Top Gun Pink Out Semifinals: 919 Nationals 6, Rivercats 5

With a heart-stopping four-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, the 919 Nationals came back for a 6-5 win over the Rivercats in the semifinals of the Top Gun Pink Out tournament.

Against a knuckleball-heavy pitcher who was very effective with his control (no walks through the first five innings), the 919 offense struggled to put together a series of hits, managing just five hits in the first five frames. That all changed going into the bottom of the sixth while facing a 5-2 deficit, as the Nats scored four runs with two outs to take the walk-off win, 6-5.

The game was also a nice reminder that we should all be very thankful that our kids play for such a quality organization. I say this because in a pregame conversation with the Rivercats coach, I mentioned our kids always like playing in Angier for obvious reasons. His response: "Is there an ice cream place in Angier?"

COME ON PEOPLE, GET IT TOGETHER. I like the Rivercats coach a lot, but some things are inexcusable. So next time you are ticked off about playing time or wish your kid was hitting somewhere different in the batting order, just remember: you could be playing with a team that goes to Angier and doesn't realize they should stop at Sunni Sky's. WHAT KIND OF WORLD ARE THESE PEOPLE LIVING IN?

Oh yeah, almost forgot: 919 advanced to the championship game.

Semifinal 919 Nationals scoring plays

Fourth inning

Bryce singled and moved to second on Banks' fielder's choice. Gavin tripled home Bryce and scored on Chace's fielder's choice.

Score after four innings: 919 Nationals 2, Rivercats 1

Sixth inning

Colin ignited the rally with a single. Elias was hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice put runners on first and third with two outs and 919 still staring at a 5-2 deficit. Bryce stole second. Banks walked to load the bases. Gavin lined a two-run single. Chace's fly ball to the right side fell safely, scoring Banks and tying the game. A wild pitch moved Gavin to third with the winning run, and then Ben walked it off with a single. 

Score after six innings: 919 Nationals 6, Rivercats 5

Pitching Performances

Andrew started, went three innings, and at one point struck out five batters in a row, all of them looking.

Colin worked through the fourth and pitched into the fifth.

Banks closed it out with two innings of relief, including a 1-2-3 sixth when the ball didn't leave the infield.

Dugout Wisdom

As Andrew mowed down a series of Rivercats in order in the second and third--all five of them looking--the perplexed Rivercats coach would frustratedly announce the latest strikeout count. "That's three!" he barked after three in a row went down looking. "Four!" after the fourth. You get the idea. When 919 returned to the dugout after the third, Bryce said, "It's really nice of their coach to help you keep the stats. He keeps telling you how many strikeouts Andrew has!"

I didn't hear exactly who said this, but with Ben up in the bottom of the sixth and the winning run on third, someone in the dugout said, "Don't worry, Ben is the walk-off king." Looks like they were right.

Semifinal Web Gems

• Andrew flashed a great pickoff move against the leadoff man in the first, and then Banks ran him down to get the out.
• No specific play to single out here, but just a nod to the outfield play all weekend. For the most part, everyone who was in the outfield did a very solid job of taking the right route to balls, getting throws in quickly and to the right place, and limiting hitters to the minimum number of bases possible on any given base hit.

Semifinal line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Rivercats	0	0	0	1	4	0	5	9
919 Nationals	0	0	0	2	0	4	6	8