The Braves used the Showcase Field at ECB this morning to put on a hitting show in the first game of the Perfect Game - World Wood Bat Association 2013 Grads National Championship. Ironically, their opponent - a team named "Hit After Hit" from Nashville, TN - failed to mount much of an offensive game, falling prey to a COMPLETE GAME, 1 HIT, SHUT OUT thrown by the Braves' Ace, #44 Jordan Brown. But, on the Braves' side of diamond, the hits were coming one after the other as they run-ruled the Nashvillians by the score 10-0 in 5 innings. And, speaking of hit after hit, they also out-hit them 13-1.
Offensively, the Braves benefitted from more than a handful of defense errors early in the game by Hit After Hit's defense. After reaching on an error to lead-off the game, #5 Hunter Swilling stole second base, advanced to third base on another error, and then scored when #10 John Davis reached on yet another error. In the second inning, #8 Patrick Schultz and #16 Nathaniel Maggio each recorded singles, but the Braves left the bases loaded as Hit After Hit's defense tightened. #10 John Davis led off the third inning with one of two BLASTS OF THE GAME on a triple to the wall in the left field gap. Davis then scored when #2 Sam Ayers put the ball in play and reached on yet another infield error. Two more hits in the inning included a blooper single to right field by #22 Jon Jon Banks and a very well-stroked 1-RBI DOUBLE into the left field corner by #19 Ryan Murphy. But, once again, the Braves left 2 in scoring position. After a quiet fourth inning, the Braves lit up the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning as they batted around the order and recorded 7 runs on 8 hits. #22 Jon Jon Banks led off the inning with the second BLAST OF THE GAME, a deep fly ball crushed over the left fielder that went for a DOUBLE. #19 Ryan Murphy and #8 Patrick Schultz followed Banks with singles to the left and right side respectively. Then, following a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by #12 Will Schnure to move Murphy and Schultz into scoring position, the Braves strung FIVE singles together off the bats of #16 Nathaniel Maggio, #5 Hunter Swilling, #33 Stephen Wrenn, #10 John Davis, and #2 Sam Ayers to seal the deal for the Braves. Davis recorded 3 RBI's on his hit as he managed to empty the bases and advance to third on more errors by Hit After Hit's defense.
Defensively, #44 Jordan Brown threw an absolute GEM of a game, striking out 7 batters and only allowing 1 baserunner on Hit After Hit's lone hit. His efficiency on the hill was fantastic as he only needed 57 total pitches across 5 innings and recorded a 2.35 strike to ball ratio. Brown's COMPLETE GAME, 1 HIT, SHUT OUT was just what the doctor ordered as the Braves' defense played flawlessly behind him to record the other eight outs via 4 ground outs and 4 fly outs. Brown also contributed defensively on a perfectly executed 3-1 ground-out in the second inning that first baseman #22 Jon Jon Banks fielded while moving to his right, then turned and threw a perfect dart to Brown as he hustled over to the first base bag from the mound.