April 26: Mudcats at Thunder

After a disappointing loss to the Thunder earlier in the season by 12 runs, the Mudcats were looking to exact some revenge. The Mudcat players had a take no prisoner look in their eyes this evening and were ready to play ball.

Lead off Leyton got things started in the first inning with lead off single. Tyler followed with a single of his own and the Mudcats had things cooking. A couple of more hits and the Mudcats put two on the board to take the early lead. The Thunder came back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. After 1 the score was 2-2.

Ever hear the song "everybody hits everybody scores"? Well the Mudcats must have been singing and listening because the bats came alive in the top half of the second inning. Six singles and two doubles in the inning accounted for eight hits and five runs. After 2 the score was 7-2.

J-Mac started the hitting off in the third with a single followed by Zach, Luke, Smiley, and Ben all with singles of their own. The Mudcats were only able to plate one run but the defense held and after 3 the score was 8-2.

After a couple of quick outs, Leyton came up with a big hit for a single and then Tyler came to the plate. A shot down the left field line that made everyone in the stands stand up to try and get a better look. The ball landed just a few feet short of the fence and this was by far the closest that any Mudcat came to an over the fence home run this season. The hit scored Leyton and brought Sticks up to the plate with a runner in scoring position. Sticks singled in Tyler for the second run of the inning. The Thunder came up in the fourth knowing they had to score some runs and their bats finally started to catch fire. Luke had a couple of nice plays at third, one on a pop up and the other on a grounder. The grounder forced Luke to show his range to his left before coming up with a nice throw over to first. Christopher ended the inning with a solid play on a ground ball at second base. After 4 the score was 10-7.

The Mudcats were held scoreless in the fifth where some great hustle was shown by Luke. J-Mac hit a single into center field which was charged and thrown into second very quickly. Luke was at first and ran as fast as he could make a text book feet first slide into second to beat the throw. With the Mudcats going scoreless the Thunder smelled blood in the water and started the inning with five singles in a row scoring the tying run. The next batter hit one right back up the middle causing the pitching coach to duck out of the way, Luke made a great reaction play on the ball making the out at first. With a runner on second, a ground ball to J-Mac where he forced the runner out of the baseline and almost doubled up at first base. It was a bang bang play and the runner and the ball met and it was knocked out of Adams glove. Not to fear, Tyler makes a force out at third to end the inning. After 5 the score was 10-11.

The Mudcats entered the sixth down by one run and down to their last three outs. Christopher hit a ground ball and ran as fast as he could but was thrown out for the first out. Anthony hit a sharp ground ball down the third base line that could not be handled and safe at first was the tying run. Gabe hits a ball just over the pitchers head that somehow the shortstop managed to make a shoe string catch on. You could hear the Mudcat first base coach, "GO" ,"STOP","BACK" with Anthony making a head first dive back to the bag. Leyton hits a single moving runners to first and second. Tyler hits a pitching wedge shot about three feet in front of home plate that had so much backspin on it, that when the catcher dove to try and make the play it spun back and touched him in fair territory. Bases loaded and Sticks comes to bat and what an at bat it would be. Sticks hit the ball over the shortstops head scoring Anthony and Leyton, and when the outfield did not get the ball in Coach Joe had Tyler on the move. The hit scored three runs giving the Mudcats the lead.

The bottom of the sixth and the Mudcats lead by two. Going for there second win of the season Coach Andrew rallied the troops together making changes to the defense at the last second. He wanted the right people in the right spots for this crucial three outs. Things started off good with a ground ball to Sticks at third for a nice clean play and one out. The next batter hits a hard ground ball to Anthony at second that bounced up on him, knocking it down with his chest and making the play at first things were looking good. A single passed short led to the first base runner. The next batter hit a line drive to right center that went in and out of the glove moving the runners to first and third. A throw into the dugout on the following ground ball made things really interesting because it scored a run and had runners on second and third with one of the Thunders big hitter up. The crack of the bat and the ball went flying out to center field where Zach made the catch of the night ending the game. Zach and all the rest of the players sprinted toward the third base dugout like they had just won the world series. The crowd went wild with cheers and the Mudcats won 13-12.

After the game every one was very excited. Ben, Luke, and Zach all received stickers for their play in the game. The players all looked and felt great as they listened to Coach Andrew tell them all the things they had accomplished during the game.

The Thunder were in second place witch proves that this Mudcat team can play with anyone in the league and a little confidence may go a long way for them. This win will be remembered for many games to come.

On three MUDCATS!

Write-up by Frank
Pictures by Tonya