14U Elite World Series – Championship Day Semi-final Game

Kissimmee, FL   Sunday morning, July 19, 2009, was the day the USSSA Elite World Series Champion would be crowned. But first two semi final games had to be played to see who would advance to the finals.  Both the TBS 9th ranked NVTBL Stars (VA) and TBS 25th ranked Team Orlando (FL) were hoping to be that team to play the winner of the TravelBallSelect’s Regular Season Champions, East Cobb Astros (GA), and the TBS 24th ranked Louisiana Tigers.
 
As the tournament draws to an end, many teams are out of pitching and the last few games are determined by the bats more than the arms. That was the case in this high scoring game. There were fireworks early from both teams. Team Orlando lead off the game with three straight walks and then a line drive single by #18 Allen Archer which plated the first two runs. Then another walk put runners on first and third and another single, this time by #7 Gunner McNeil, scored another run.  Before the inning was over, six runs had crossed the plate two of which came off a double by #14 Logan Blum. In the bottom of the inning the Stars started the same way as Team Orlando did by getting a couple walks and then a single by #51 Thomas Rodgers to get two runs across and then a double by #5 Denathan Dukes cut it to the lead the lead in half, by a score of 6-3. Pitcher Gunner McNeil settled in and was able to get out of the inning without giving the early Orlando lead completely away.
 
In the top of the fourth inning Team Orlando put three more runs on the board. One came after a passed ball scored #8 Kyle Marsh who boarded the bases with a single. Then #12 Edwin Bonilla plated two more who had reached on walks off of NVTBL new pitcher, #51 Thomas Rodgers. It looked like the flood gates were about to open when Rodgers induced a double play to avoid the drowning. The Stars however had an uphill battle down 9-3 and running out of innings.

Pitchers for Team Orlando Gunner McNeil and #25 Codi Crouse cruised their way through 6 2/3 inning but the Stars weren’t done. They got two more runs after as a result of three walks and two passed balls. This prompted Team Orlando’s coach to make a pitching change. He brought in #8 Kyle Marsh to close the game and end the Stars last inning rally.

The local boys were excited to make it to the Championship Game and face the formidable East Cobb Astros who had won their semi-final game.

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