Mudcats Win Spring Season Opener

March 24, 2009

First Pitch at 5:47 PM

Weather was Partly Cloudy and Cool



The Mudcats took on the Scrappers for the start of spring season play. The team played solid defense, holding the Scrappers to 5 runs. The boys also hit the ball well; posting 14 runs of their own. Game highlights follow:

Top of the 1st, Dane led off with a single hit sharply to center. Ryan advanced on a fielder’s choice. Joseph singled to left, advancing Ryan to 3rd. Matt hit an RBI to center, scoring Ryan as Joseph was forced at second. Cade reached 1st on a hit that would bring home Matt. Mudcats would score 2 in the 1st.

Bottom half defense included two unassisted force-outs by Cade at 2nd and a liner hauled in by Ryan. Mudcats led 2-0 after 1.

Top of the 2nd, Luke hit a shot to the fence for a stand up single, Adam reached on an infield ball, and Jacob nailed one to right center to load the bases for Tyler. Tyler knocked one by the shortstop, brining home both Luke and Adam. Leyton hit into a 5-3 for an RBI and then Andrew hit into a 6-3 for an RBI. Mudcats scored 4 in the 2nd.

Bottom half defense included a solid back-up play by Andrew in left, a fly out to Cade, an unassisted force at 2nd by Ryan, and a 1-3 from Ryan Bagley (Bags) to Joseph. The team gave up 3 runs in the 2nd inning on 3 singles and 1 double, and held a 6-3 advantage.

The sticks really came alive in the 3rd with the top of the order back to the plate. Dane led off with his first career homerun over the left centerfield fence and into the trees. Ryan followed up with a scorcher to the centerfield fence for 2 bags. Joseph then nailed the left centerfield fence for 2 bases, scoring Ryan. Matt followed up with a hard hit single to left center, moving Joseph to 3rd. Cade singled to left, scoring Joseph. Bags squeaked one by short, moving Matt to 3rd. Luke, Adam, and Jacob followed suit by crushing the ball, but all would line out. Mudcats scored 3 in the 3rd.

Bottom half defense included a 4-3 from Cade to Joseph, a great stop on a line drive by Tyler, and a pop fly brought down by Cade, and nothing getting by Jacob Mitchell in Right. The Scrappers scored 1 in the 3rd for a 9-4 Mudcats advantage.

The sticks stayed hot in the 4th, starting with a leadoff single to left center by Tyler and then another hit from Leyton. Andrew grounded out, moving the runners into scoring position for Dane, who earned his second RBI of the day brining home Leyton. Ryan lined one to left followed by a Joseph homerun to clear the bases and end the inning on the 5 and 10 run rule.

Bottom half defense included a 6-3 from Ryan to Joseph, a pop fly caught by Joseph, and a line drive pulled in by Cade. The Mudcats gave up 3 singles in the inning, but no runs. After 4 the score was 14-4, Mudcats.

The air cooled considerably in the 5th, as did the bats. Bags claimed the only hit in the scoreless inning for the Mudcats, with a line drive to right center. The boys played their best defense in the inning as well, putting the Scrappers down in order on a high pop fly to Bags at pitcher, a fly out to Joseph at 1st, and an unassisted force out by Joseph. After 5, the score remained 14-4 Mudcats.

The sticks stayed on ice in the cold 6th inning, with the only hit being a leadoff line drive to center by Adam. The Mudcats would close out the game allowing only 1 run in the 6th. The defensive highlights included a sharp grounder knocked down by Matt, a great stop in left by Leyton, holding the hitter to a single and saving a run. A pop out to Bags at pitcher and a Bags to Joseph 1-3 would end the game at 7:17 PM, Mudcats winning 14-5.