Top Gun Back Pack Tournament Game 2: Carolina Titans 16, WR 7U 7

After a short break to recharge with GoGurt, Gatorade and Frogg Toggs, West Raleigh stayed on the same field (and in the same dugout) for a matchup against the formidable Carolina Titans, a team with a mix of 7s and 8s that draws mainly from the Aberdeen area. Many of those players have played together for a significant length of time, and their experience showed early, as they scored five quick first-inning runs on the way to a 16-7 win.

As Coach Sean noted after the game, it was the first time for many of the 7U team that they were playing a true doubleheader, and the fatigue was evident in the first three innings, when the hard-hitting Titans held a 10-3 advantage. "But I was proud of the way you guys battled," Coach Sean said. "You played much, much better in those last three innings. You battled." The scoreboard reflected the effort, as the Titans--who also defeated the West Raleigh 8U Red team on Saturday afternoon--held a slim 6-4 advantage in the final three frames.

The loss, which was umpired by perhaps the best umpire in Little League history (and, let's be honest, he may have been the original umpire in Little League history), dropped WR 7U to 1-1 in pool play. However, scores from Saturday action show that 7U remains alive in the pool play event, and they're doing it with the only all-7U club in the event.

Expect plenty of familiar faces around The Factory bright and early on Sunday morning, as West Raleigh 8U Red also plays at 9 a.m. WR 7U begins play at 9 a.m. on field 2 against the Stedman Black Sox, then faces 8U Red at 10:30 on that same field. Pregame for the first game begins at sunrise 8 a.m.

Game 2 West Raleigh scoring plays
First inning
After a difficult defensive top of the first, West Raleigh rebounded quickly with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Trey reached on a one-out single, and then Gavin made it two on with a grounder to the left side. With two down, Jake ripped a double, scoring Trey. Joe's bullet through the left side scored a pair.
Score after one inning: Titans 5, WR 3


Fourth inning
Chace scored Trey with an RBI fielder's choice, and then Jake's grounder to second scored Gavin.
Score after four innings: Titans 11, WR 5


Fifth inning
Asher lined a one-out single and then moved to second on Mason's hard grounder to the left side. Elias's grounder put runners at the corners, and Timmy came through with a two-out single to score Asher.
Score after five innings: Titans 12, WR 6

Sixth inning
Bryce led off with a single, then moved to second on Trey's single. Gavin's fielder's choice put runners at the corners, and then Chace lofted a long sacrifice fly that scored Bryce, alertly tagging up from third base.
Score after six innings: Titans 16, WR 7

Game 2 Web Gems

• Joey glided over and made a good catch of a fly ball in left-center to end the second inning.
• Joe made a very similar catch in left-center with a runner on second in the sixth.
• Jake ended the sixth by making a running catch near the right-field line.

Game 2 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Titans	5	0	5	1	1	4	16	13
WR 7U	3	0	0	2	1	1	7	8