Defense Wins the Tournament

May 30, 2009 – First Pitch at 11:05 AM – Weather was Sunny and Warm

Allowing 5.4 runs/game during the regular season (league leading defense), the Mudcats actually improved on that throughout the tournament, allowing an average of 4.6 runs/game. In the Championship game on Saturday, the Mudcats topped that against the 2nd best scoring team in the league, only allowing the Scrappers 3 runs. It was the Scrappers, however, that took the tournament, allowing just 1-run, a Home Run that they couldn’t play defense on.

The Mudcats finished the season 16-2-1, took the regular season championship going undefeated, and were the end of season tournament runner-up. Most importantly, Ryan Bagley (Bags) and Jacob Mitchell (Smiley) were co-winners of the West Raleigh Minor League Sportsmanship Award. They, along with all of the Mudcats were models of sportsmanship throughout the season, in both victory and defeat.

The Mudcats have 7 players that are graduating from the Minor League, playing their last games today, including Ryan Bagley, Luke Cerasi, Cade Keesling, Matthew Molee, Joseph Nunn, Ryan Sholar, and Dane Stewart. Coaches Mark, Dave, and Vaughn also coached their final game on the Minor League field. The Mudcats wish all of the graduating players and coaches success.

The championship game was a defensive juggernaut, the tone being set immediately as Dane led off the top of the 1st with a shot down to 3rd, shockingly turned for a 5-3. The 1 run for the Mudcats game quick on the 2nd at bat, as Ryan hit a line-drive rope over the left-centerfield fence. Joseph line to the pitcher, Matt singled to left center, and then Cade grounded into a 4U FC.

Bottom of 1, Joseph pulled in an F3, a major league pop to left center was brought in by Bags, then a base hit, and then Ryan got the 3rd out on a 6U. Mudcats lead after 1 inning, 1 run to none.

Top of 2, Bags led off with a base hit to left-center. Luke advanced on an FC. Adam singled up the middle. Jacob nearly knocked one up the middle that was tracked down for a stellar 6U-3 DP.

Bottom of 2, an L8 by Adam running in for a shoestring catch was the 1st out. Two base hits gave the Scrappers 1st and 3rd with 1 out. A run then scored on a 6-4 from Ryan to Cade. Out 3 came on an L4 to Cade.

Top of 3, Tyler, Leyton, and Andrew all get put down on 1-3 plays; nothing getting by the Scrappers pitcher. In the bottom half, after a leadoff base hit, Ryan and Joseph connected for a 6U-3 DP. A P1 to Jacob ended the inning, teams knotted at 1.

Top of 4, Smiley hit a line drive to right, only to be set down on an unorthodox 9-3. The ball just got there too quickly, and right at the right fielder playing in. Dane would single, but a pair of pop outs ended the half inning quickly. In the bottom half, the Mudcats worked out of a jam. After a Ryan/Joseph 6-3, the Scrappers hit a double then a single to put runners on 1st and 3rd with just the 1 out. A short pop fly going foul towards the first base dugout was charged by Joseph, who made a diving catch for the out. Then on a 6-3, Joseph outdid himself scooping up a 1-hopper on a bang-bang play to end the threat and secure the 1 to 1 tie through 4 innings.

Top of the 5th featured 4 hard hits, but only one that squeaked through, a double to left-center by Bags. In the bottom half, a single, triple, and then sac-fly, caught by Adam, gave the Scrappers a 2 run advantage. After another base hit, the inning ended on a 6-4 from Ryan to Cade and then a K.

The Mudcats went into the 6th inning losing 3 to 1 and made a valiant attempt to come back with the bottom of the order facing the solid Scrappers defense. Adam and Jacob both singled to start the inning. That was as much as the Scrappers would bend, as the next three Mudcats went down, 2 of which were hard hit balls, typical of the game. The tournament game ended at 12:12 PM, Scrappers winning.

The Scrappers finished their season 15-3, losing twice to the Mudcats, who finished their season 16-2-1. The Mudcats only two losses came to the Scrappers during the tournament. The Mudcats and Scrappers finished the regular season 1st and 2nd in record, offense, and defense, and it was only fitting to have these two teams playing the last game of the tournament together.