The Friday night championship matchup in the 11-12 year old kid pitch league featured two unlikely teams, neither being top-seeded in the tournament.
It was Game Xchange versus Foust Construction and Game Xchange had the upper hand for the entire game.
Foust Construction was riding its momentum from a pair of recent back-to-back wins, but Game Xchange had enough offense and defense to stop the momentum in its tracks. Game Xchange held the lead and extended the lead in the closing innings and defeated Foust Construction 13-4 in a six-inning, no-time-limit game.
Foust Construction never really was able to get the offense going until the fourth inning and by that time, the damage was done. Its defense could not find the stops and Game Xchange continued to pound out hits until its final at-bat.
In the top of the first, Raleigh Gilliam led the game off with a stand-up double and the early offense showed promise. A strikeout followed for the first out of the inning. Immediately after a fly-ball was caught at third base for the second out of the inning. Gilliam made an attempt to steal his way in but was caught with a tag for the final out.
Game Xchange came out swinging in the bottom of the first. John Garrett single up the middle to reach first base safely. Taylor Smith drew a walk but stole every base after and Garrett and Smith made it a 2-0 ballgame. A strikeout for out one was followed by Chance Hunter, who singled and tried to stretch it into a double and was tagged out at second. Jathan Cagle got a base hit for a single and Eli Kuykendall followed with a walk. After a strikeout for the second out, Hunter Jones singled and knocked across Cagle and Kuykendall and Game Xchange held a 4-0 lead. Hunter Jones and Tyler Kennedy reached base just before the third out.
Foust Construction did not show any signs of making a game of it in the top of the second. Game Xchange retired the side in order and held Foust Construction scoreless.
Game Xchange returned to the plate in the bottom half of the second. After the first out Smith reached base and stole second and third.
Hunter hit a blast into the gap for a double and Smith scored and took a 5-0 lead. Kuykendall was the only other batter to reach base for Game Xchange in the bottom of the second.
In the top of the fourth, Foust Construction posted its best offensive numbers. Bailey Meeks led the inning off with a walk and a pair of singles by Gilliam and Kyle Johnson scored Meeks and Gilliam and the lead was cut to 5-2. Johnson would advance home during the next three batter who all went down in consecutive order and Foust Construction was on the comeback, 5-3.
Game Xchange responded in the bottom of the fourth when Garrett led the inning off with a huge double. Smith followed with a single. A pair of walks brought in a run and the score was 6-3 in favor of Game Xchange. A pair of outs with runners on base, Jones doubled and scored Smith and Hunter crossed the plate and took an 8-3 lead just before the third out.
Foust Construction had its backs against the ropes but would not go down without a fight. Will Vance started the inning with a huge smash hit for a double. Hudson O’Connor followed with his own double and Vance scored and the score was 8-4. The next three batters all went down one, two, three, and the inning was over as quickly as it started.
Game Xchange piled on five more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Garrett and Smith pounded out back to back singles. Hunter was hit by a pitch and two more walks were thrown and runs started showing up on the scoreboard. Kuykendall, Newby, and Jones all played a role in the bottom of the fifth inning scoring. When the third out had been made Game Xchange had pushed the lead to 13-4.
Foust Construction had one last ditch effort but it was game over for Foust Construction. Game Xchange only allowed one batter to reach first base in its final appearance at the plate. Craven was left stranded after the final out and Game Xchange won big and claimed the championship by a final score of 13-4.