Mudcats Blank the Bees

May 1, 2009 – First Pitch at 5:49 PM– Weather in and out of rain

The first-place Mudcats (10-0) played their most complete game of the season as they defeated the second place Bees (8-2) on Friday night in West Raleigh.

Dane got the game started by hustling to first for a leadoff runner on and none out in the first. Ryan singled down the left field line, then Joseph singled to load the bases. Matt knocked one up the middle, scoring both Dane and Ryan. Bags blasted one through short, bringing home Joseph. Luke reached on a 6-4 FC. Adam lined a single to left-center, scoring Matt.

Four batters came to the plate, with a runner reaching first for the Bees. The outs included an F5 to Matt and a 6-4 between Ryan and Cade. After one inning the Mudcats were up 4 runs to none.

Andrew got things going in the 2nd with a hit down the 3rd base line. Jacob Mitchell reached on a 1-6 FC. Dane singled up the middle, moving Jacob to 2nd. Ryan singled, but would advance to 3rd on throws with Jacob and Dane both scoring. Joseph hit a double to left-center, scoring Ryan. Matt singled, but was left stranded along with Joseph.

Bottom of two, Bees led off with a single. The first out came on an L1 snagged by Bags. The second out came on a sweet P2 basket catch by Luke, quick to get his mask off and avoid the batter interference. Another single put runners on 1st and 2nd with 2-out. That’s as far as they got, as a 6U by Ryan put the Bees back in the field. After two innings the score was all Mudcats with 7.

Third inning was the only scoreless one for the Mudcats. Bags led off with a single. Luke advanced on a 6U FC. Adam singled, moving Luke to second. Leyton singled to load the bases. Jacob hit into a 1-2 and then Andrew a 6U to end the inning.

Bottom of 3, Bees led off with a single, followed by a 1-6FC, then a 5-4FC, then a P3. The Bees never got a runner past first, and the inning ended, Mudcats still up 7 runs to none.

Top of the 4th, Dane got things going with a single before a brief rain delay. Ryan got things going once play resumed advancing on a 5-4 FC. Then Joseph drilled one up the middle, scoring Ryan from 1st. It would be the only run of the inning for the Mudcats.

Bottom half, Dane and Joseph chalked up the first out with a 5-3. Then on a shot to left, Bags fielded the ball quickly and got it in, holding the runner to 1B. That was a key play to save the shutout, as the next batter hit a double to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1-out. An L4 to Cade and then a 4-3 from Cade to Joseph snuffed the Bees scoring chance. After 4 innings, it was all Mudcats with 8 runs.

Cade led off the 5th with a line-shot up the middle. Bags hustled for a 1B, moving Cade Bags to 2nd. Luke hustled for an infield single, and then advanced to second on throws as Cade scored and Bags advanced to 3rd. Then Adam singled up the middle and reached second on the throws, as Bags and Luke both scored. Leyton then hit a 2-bag shot down the left-field line. Jacob followed suit with a double down the left-field line again, scoring Leyton, and ending the inning by rule.

Bottom of 5, the Mudcats put the Bees down in order on a P3 to Joseph, a 5-3 from Matt to Joseph, and a P1 brought down by Jacob. After 5 innings, the Mudcats were leading 13 runs to none.

Andrew led off the 6th with a rip down the left field line for 1B. Jacob Mitchell reached on a 6-4 FC. Runners would advance 1-base at a time as Dane singled up the middle, Ryan singled on a fly to center, Joseph cranked one to left-center, Matt drilled one down the left-field line, Cade lined a single to center, and Bags hit a shot to left-center. In all, 4 runs scored before the Bees’ last ups.

The Mudcats closed out the game on a 4-3 from Bags to Adam, followed by a Bees base hit, then an L4 to Bags and an F6 to Cade. The game ended at 7:13 PM, Mudcats shutting out the Bees 17 runs to none. The game featured 6 rips down the left-field line, which the Mudcats owned for the evening. Defensively, the boys only allowed 1 runner to reach 3rd base, coming in the 4th inning. It was a great win on both sides of the field for the boys in black and red.