Mudcats Strike Thunder – Win Regular Season

May 11, 2009 – First Pitch at 5:44 PM – Weather was overcast & cool

The Mudcats (13-0-1) looked as loose as they have all spring while warming up for their season closer against the Thunder (0-14). The Mudcats sat down the Thunder in order 3 of the 6 innings played, and jumped to a 10-0 lead in the 1st inning. The win secured the boys an undefeated regular season. They will face the Thunder again in the opening round of the tournament at 3:00 on Saturday.

The boys played with a purpose in the top of the 1st, putting the Thunder down in order on an F1 to Dane, a 4-3 from Cade to Joseph, and an F6 to Ryan.

Bottom of the 1st, the Mudcats sent all 13 boys to the plate; all 13 getting on base, scored 10, and only suffered 1 out before the inning ended on rule. Dane hustled to 1st to get the inning started, then Ryan singled to left-center, the Joseph got one past short, then Matt put one into left, Cade advanced on a 5-4 FC, then Bags hustled for a hit, then Luke lined one to left, Adam doubled to the right-center fence, Jacob put it into play for two-bags, Tyler knocked a shot to left, Leyton put another one into left, Andrew pushed one through the 3rd baseman, and Jacob hit into left center. Thunder none, Mudcats 10 after 1.

Top of the 2nd, the Thunder managed their only run of the game after a leadoff double. The runner advanced to 3rd on a 4-3 from Cade to Joseph, and then scored on a 3U by Joseph. Bags finished it with an F1.

Dane hustled out again in the bottom of the 2nd to get the inning going. Ryan followed up with a line shot to center for a double. After a P6, Matt doubled to center, scoring Ryan. Then Cade cleared the bases with his first career HR, going yard over the Moe’s sign. After a 6-3 for out 2, Luke lined a rocket off one-bounce into the chest of the shortstop for a single. Credit the toughness of the shortstop who recovered quickly. Adam lined one to the centerfield fence, but would be left stranded along with Luke, the inning ending with the Mudcats leading 1 run to 14.

The Mudcats had their second perfect inning in the 3rd, sitting the Thunder down on a 6-3, 1-3, 6-3 from Ryan, then Jacob, then Ryan again to Joseph.

The boys tacked on 1 more in the bottom half, kick started by Leyton who singled to left with 1 out. Andrew lined one into left center moving Leyton to second. Then with 2-out and runners on 1st and 2nd, Dane smoked on to the fence just right of center, scoring Leyton as Andrew advanced fro 1st to 3rd. Ryan ripped one right short for an L6, and after 3 it was Thunder 1, Mudcats 15.

Top of the 4th, the first out came on a sweet 6-3 with Ryan ranging all the way to his left, snagging the ball just in front of second base, then throwing on the run to Joseph. After a base hit and a K, Cade connected with Ryan on a 4-6 to close down the Thunder.

Bottom of the 4th, 3 more runs for the Mudcats. Joseph singled to left. Then Matt hit a high shot to deep right-center that looked like it was going out. By the time it bounced once into the fence, Joseph had already motored from 1st through 3rd scoring on the hit. Cade then followed with a hard grounder into left-center, moving Matt to 2nd. Bags then hit a line shot only to have it snagged for an L6. Then Luke lined one into left, scoring Matt and moving Cade to 2nd. Adam drilled one into right-center, moving Cade to 3rd. Then Jacob got an RBI on a 1-3, scoring the final run of the game for the Mudcats. The inning ended Mudcats leading 1 run to 18.

Top of the 5th, Mudcats shut down the Thunder in order again, with some help, on an F6 to Cade playing at short, a K, and then a 6-4 from Cade to Dane. Great defense by the boys mixing it up in the field.

The bottom three batters went down in order in the 5th for the Mudcats, but not due to lack of hitting. The Thunder played their best defense of the game pulling in a nice line drive to 2nd, a hard hit 6-3, and another sharply hit 4-3.

Playing out of position again in the 6th, the Mudcats showed solid defense to win the game. The outs came on a 4-3 from Bags to Adam, an F6 to Matt, and then an L3 to Adam.

The game ended at 7:00, Mudcats winning by a score of 1 run to 18. The win gave the boys an undefeated regular season final record of 13 wins, no losses, and 1 tie. The team was loose from the pregame warm-ups through the final out. It was a fun game for all in the Mudcats family!