Mudcats Hold the Bulls – Win Second Round Game

May 18, 2009 – First Pitch at 5:40 PM – Weather was clear and pleasant

The #1 seed Mudcats (15-0-1) prevailed in their second round tournament game against the #4 seed Bulls (10-6). The win advances the Mudcats to the 3rd round of the winners’ bracket where they will face off with the #2 seed Scrappers.

The boys started off with great defense in the top of the first. They put the Scrappers down in order on a P1 to Dane, an F4 and then P4, both to Cade. In the bottom half, Dane led off with a line drive to left center and Joseph doubled up the middle, moving Dane to 3rd. Matt brought Dane home on a sac fly, and then Joseph scored when Cade put the ball into play. After 1, the Mudcats were up no runs to 2.

The 2nd inning featured more solid defense by the Mudcats. After a leadoff single by the Bulls, Cade pulled in an F4 for out 1. Then Cade and Ryan connected on a 4-6FC followed by a K to keep the Bulls scoreless. In the bottom half the Mudcats tacked on 3 more. Luke led off with an infield hit demonstrating great hustle. Adam roped one to right-center, moving Luke to 3rd. Jacob put one over the 2nd baseman for an RBI, bringing home Luke. Tyler then lined to left center for 2 bags, clearing the bases ahead of him. Leyton hustled to first to give the Mudcats 2 runners on with none out, but three consecutive hard hit balls by Sticks, Smiley, and Dane went right at the Bulls. After 2, the Mudcats led no runs to 5.

Great defense again in the 3rd, after the Bulls hit a leadoff single. Cade and Ryan earned the first two outs with forces at second base on a 6-4 and then a 4-6 fielder’s choice. Matt connected with Cade on a 5-4, all three outs coming on forces at 2nd. Ryan led off the bottom half with a shot that knocked the 3rd baseman on his heels for 1B. Joseph followed up with a double, moving Ryan to 3rd. Matt lined one to left-center, scoring Ryan and moving Joseph to 3rd. Cade hit an RBI Sac Fly, bringing Matt home and moving Joseph to 3rd. Bags reached on a 5-4FC and then moved to 2nd on a line drive to left by Luke. Adam then doubled up the middle, scoring Bags and moving Luke to 3rd. Jacob then singled up the middle, scoring Luke. After 3 innings, the Mudcats were leading no runs to 9.

In the 4th, the Bulls made a run, posting 4 runs on the board. After a leadoff single and a 4-3 from Cade to Joseph, the Bulls had a runner on 2nd with 1 out. A line drive to right-center was stopped by Andrew who made the throw into Cade who got the ball home to Bags for an almost out. End result was 1 run in and the batter on 3rd with still just 1 down. A single brought the runner from 3rd home, and then a 2-run home run completed the scoring effort by the Bulls. The Mudcats closed out the half-inning on a 4-3 from Cade to Joseph and then an F4 to Cade.

In the bottom half, the Mudcats came back with 5 runs, starting with a leadoff effort by Leyton to turn an infield ball into 2-bags. After a P4 by Sticks, Jacob Smiley Mitchell added some hustle of his own, resulting in a 1st and 3rd situation for the Mudcats, top of the order coming to the plate. Dane hit a shot to right-center, scoring Leyton. Ryan crushed one to left-center for two bases and scoring Jacob. Joseph singled to right-center, scoring Ryan. Matt lined to left, moving Joseph to 2nd. Cade then lined one up the middle scoring Joseph. With only 1 out, the inning was called on the 5 and 10 run rule, Mudcats winning 4 runs to 14.

Each team added 1 in the 5th. After an error and base hit, the Bulls had runners on 1st and 2nd with none out. After a P2 on a great snag by Luke, then a 1-5 from Bags to Matt, who got the tag on, the Mudcats managed to not allow a runner to reach 3rd, now with 2 down. A single stopped by Tyler held the runners to 1 base, loading them up. Another base hit, and continued great defense by the boys to only allow 1 run to score. A 1-3 from Bags to Joseph got the Mudcats out of the jam.

In the bottom half, the Bags led off with an infield single, followed by another one by Luke. After an L6 and a 1-3, the Mudcats had 2nd and 3rd with 2 out. A line up the middle scored Bags before the inning ended on a P5. After 5, the Mudcats were up 10 runs, 5 to 15.

In the top of the 5th the Bulls staged a serious comeback effort, mostly with 2 outs. After a 3U by Joseph and a single, Ryan connected with Cade on a 6-4 off a missed pop-fly, giving the Bulls a runner on 1st with 2 outs. Then, the Bulls managed 6 straight hard hit singles, ultimately scoring the 5 runs. Finally, and F3 confidently caught by Joseph ended the rally and the game.

The final out came at 7:11 PM with the Mudcats on top, 10 runs to 15. The win keeps the boys in the winners’ bracket where they will face the Scrappers in the 3rd round game.