Mudcats Rally Past Lookouts

April 25, 2009

First Pitch at 11:03 AM

Weather sunny and hot

The Mudcats outclassed the Lookouts in a tough game that featured 3 lead changes. They advanced to a regular season record of 9 wins and no losses.

Showing up just in time for the pregame pep-talk by coach Vaughn, Dane took his first crack at a baseball from behind the plate. He reached on a single and then advanced to second on throwing errors. Ryan hit an infield single, moving Dane to 3rd. Joseph hit a sac-fly to bring Dane home. Matt knocked a double to left, moving Ryan to third, and then scoring on a Cade single up the middle. Luke advanced on an FC and Adam hustled for an infield hit. Mudcats posted 3 in the top of the 1st.

Mudcats recorded their first out in the bottom of the first on a 4-3 from Cade (ranging to second to grab the ball) to Joseph. The next Lookout advanced on a throwing error, followed by a Ryan to Cade 6-4 for the second out. An infield hit put runners of 1st and 2nd with 2-out. A shot to left was tracked down by Leyton, who threw it into Ryan, who tagged out the runner from 1st going to 3rd, but after the lead runner crossed home. After 1, Mudcats 3, Lookouts 1.

Tyler hustled for an infield hit to lead off the 2nd. Leyton hit a liner up the middle, moving Tyler to 3rd. Jacob Mitchell hustled for an infield hit, scoring Tyler. Andrew hit a shot toward right center that was brought down for an F4. Dane singled to load the bases for Ryan. Ryan nailed one down the third base line, only to have a great play made on it by Fall Mudcats player Zach Clover, who turned the 5U-3 DP to end the inning.

The Lookouts kept it to within 2 in the bottom half, leading off the inning with the bases loaded and none out. After a fabulous 1-2 from Jacob to Luke, Lookouts had bases loaded, 1 out. Then a K for 2 outs. The Lookouts would then score only 1 run on a throwing error before the next batter K’d to get the Mudcats out of the jam with minimal damage. 4 runs to 2 favoring the ‘Cats after 2.

Top of the 3rd was a rare occurrence, as the 3,4,5 hitters went down in order, changing the tide of the game. The Lookouts capitalized in the bottom half, scoring 2 and bringing the score to even at 4. A 4-3 from Cade to Joseph was the first out, followed by a 1B, then an L6 to Ryan. Then a double and single would score the two runs before Ryan finished them off with a P6.

Mudcats jumped back in front in the top of the 4th, but they had to earn it. Luke nailed a line drive to left center for what should have been a stand-up double, only to see it brought down on an incredible diving play. But back-to-back hits by Adam, Jacob, Tyler, Leyton, and Jacob Mitchell would score 2, giving the Mudcats a short-lived 2 run advantage.

The Lookouts outplayed the Mudcats in the 4th, scoring 3 runs in their half. The leadoff batter singled, with a good backup by Adam to hold the runner at 1st. Then Zack Clover would bat his way to 3rd, brining 1 run home, helped along by Mudcats throwing errors. Another base hit would bring Zach home, the score now tied again at 6 runs each. Another hit, and the Lookouts had runners on 1st and 2nd, none out, and already two runs in. A shot to center was fielded by Leyton, quick throw to Ryan, and then to Matt who made the tag at the plate to save the tie and get the 1st out. Now 1st and 3rd and 1 down, a 5-4 from Dane to Cade gets the 2nd out as a 3rd run scores. Ryan would get a 6U to end the inning, Mudcats losing 6 runs to 7.

Top of the 5th, Mudcats come right back. Dane leads off with a single and gets to second on throws. Ryan doubles to left-center and scores Dane, tying the game again. Then Joseph does the same, trading places with Ryan. Matt then singled, scoring Joseph and getting to 2nd on the throws. Then Cade singled, moving Matt to 3rd. Luke would then smash one right at the second baseman, who made a tough catch and throw to 1st, for an L4-3 DP. Adam then cranked one to left-center, scoring Matt. Mudcats scored 4 to regain the lead.

In the Bottom of the 5th, the Lookout would bring it to within 2 runs again. An F6 to Ryan and then a 1-3 from Dane to Joseph had the Lookouts staring at 2-out and none on. But then back-to-back doubles would score 1 run, before a P6 to Ryan ended the inning, Mudcats now leading 10 runs to 6.

Top of the 6th, two-run game, bottom 4 hitters in the order up to bat. Mudcats would need to stage a solid offensive and/or defensive stand to win this game. How about both? Tyler led off with a single. After a P5 and an FC, Andrew was up to bat with two outs, Jacob Mitchell at 1st. With two strikes, he hit a line-shot over the third-baseman, pelting the Southwest.com sign, and scoring Jacob Mitchell. With the top of the order back up, the Mudcats staged a two-out rally. On a left-center shot by Dane, Andrew would get to third on a bang-bang play, sliding under the tag. A Ryan single sharply hit to left scored Andrew, and moved Dane to 2nd. Joseph then doubled to left-center, scoring Ryan, and giving the Mudcats a 14 to 8 advantage going into the bottom of the 6th.

Ryan took the first out on an L6. After a base-hit, Cade, Ryan, and Joseph hooked up for a sweet 4-6-3 textbook double-play to end the game at 12:28 PM. Big win for the Mudcats with a final score of 14 to 8.