May 15: Mudcats at Scrappers

Well the playoffs are here and the new season begins for the Mudcats. We will have to see if all the hard work and practice pays off in the post season. Things will not be easy to start off taking on the number one seed team in the Scrappers.

Fighting through sickness Lead Off Leyton stands in to start off the game and hits a hard ground out to the third baseman. Moved up in the order J-Mac is batting second today and grounded out to his fellow short stop. Tyler hit a single to center and the Mudcats had there first hit of the game. Adam had a big hit to center field but was thrown out at second trying to take the extra base.

The Scrappers came out swinging with the first eight batters reaching base. A line drive to short, a strike out, and a ground out to short finally ended the inning but not before eight runs were scored. After 1 the score was 0-8.

Singles by Zach, Ben, and Anthony were not enough to plate a run in the second and the Mudcats went down scoreless. With a runner on first a fly to Zach in center field went off his glove, it then bounced off second to get the runner trying to take two, great hustle. After a couple of singles Sticks made a strong throw across the diamond to get a runner at first. After another single J-Mac got a slow ground ball and threw to Adam who stretched out to beat the runner. After 2 the score was 0-12.

Christopher gave one a ride to deep left field where the fielder made a nice catch and the Mudcats went three up and three down. With the score starting to mount the defense needed to make a stand and minimize any more damage. The lead off batter singled and was force out at second base. After another single and runners on first and second a ground ball to third forced the runner out unassisted. On a line drive up the middle Anthony laid out and was only able to get a piece of the ball. The ball rolled to Zach in center who was charging in on the play. With Anthony still laying on the floor in front of second Zach threw to him and he rolled over and tagged the base with his glove for the force at second. After 3 the score was 0-13.

J-Mac started the offense with a single down the third base line. Tyler then doubled to left to pick up an RBI and the first run of the game for the Mudcats. A single by Sticks moved J-Mac over and a single by Zach drove him in. Ben then singled in another run and the Mudcats were showing some life. The Scrappers answered with four runs of there own. After 4 the score was 3-17.

The fifth inning went by in a flash with no runs scored by either team and only a total of 7 batters came to the plate.

Sixth inning, last chance for the Mucats, and the offense came out firing with a lead off single by J-Mac. Tyler followed with his third hit, and second double, of the game scoring J-Mac. Adam made it back to back with a double to center of his own scoring Tyler. The Mudcats could not sustain the hitting and the inning and the game came to an end. Final score 6-17.

After the game the coach has words of encouragement for the players, reminding them that they had outscored the Scrappers 6-4 in the last three innings. If not for the slow start they could have been right in this game. Everyone received one sticker for their hard work. Four more stickers were handed out for this game. Tyler for his three hits and two doubles, Smiley who took a hard shot off his leg at pitcher and stayed in the game, Zach for his defensive play, and Anthony for his heads up tag of the bag at second.

We play tomorrow at five and need to win to stay in the tournament.

On three MUDCATS!

Write-up by Frank

Pictures by Tonya

May 11: Lookouts at Mudcats

Tonight is the last game of the regular season and after a great practice last night things look really good for a win.

A nice catch by J-Mac got things off to a good start and a few more infield outs finished the top of the first. Taylor and Adam both singled and the game was close after one.

In the second Ben tagged the first runner out at home plate on an exciting play. Zach hit another double, he has been hot lately and really pounding the ball. Luke hit a hard ball passed the third baseman and Ben followed with an RBI. After 2 the score was 6-2.

The first out in the third was made by Taylor on a ground ball. Anthony caught a fly ball to the outfield to record out number two. Leyton made the play everyone has been waiting for catching a pop up from the catcher position. Singles by Gabe and Leyton set things up for Sticks and Adam to drive in two runs. After 3 the score was 6-4.

The fourth was the Mudcats one bad inning of the game where the defence gave up nine runs and put the Mudcats in a big hole they would have to dig out of if they wanted to win. With the wind taken out of there sales the Mudcats failed to score. After 4 the score was 15-4.

Even though the Lookouts hit a double and a single they failed to score in the top giving the Mudcats hope. The Mudcats also failed to score batting only four. After 5 the score was 15-4.

In the sixth the defence held again setting up an exciting finish. Leyton singled to center to get things going. Doubles by Tyler and Sticks followed and put a couple of runs on the board. Adam, J-Mac, Zach, and Luke all singled scoring four more runs. But that was all they would score. Final score 15-10.

Leyton received a sticker for his great catch behind the plate and the Mudcats will lick their wounds and get ready for the playoffs. They will play at least two more games this season with the double elimination style tournament. Saturday morning the season begins again and with a fresh outlook anything will be possible.

On three MUDCATS!

May 8: Mudcats at Bees

It is Saturday night and not quite under the lights. With a 5:30 start the sun was still high in the sky and drying out the field. The wind was blowing the dirt off the field into huge clouds all around, lucky for us we have some great coaches and parents that dampened down the field before game time. The Bees are half game ahead of the Mudcats entering play tonight.

In the first the Mudcats got things going with a lead off single by Leyton. A fielder choice at second and then a double play limited the Mudcats to only three batters. The defense was a one man shop with all the outs coming on fly balls to J-Mac at shortstop. After 1 the score was 0-1.

Adam started things off with a single in the second. Zach hit a double moving Adam to third which Ben knocked in with a ground ball RBI. Luke and Smiley followed with RBI singles and the Mudcats scored three. The defense held up well giving up only one run. After 2 the score was 3-2.

Leyton started the third with his second hit of the game. Tyler the doubled to the fence to set up second and third and Sticks singled to knock in a run. Ben later singles to drive in his second run of the game. The defense went one, two, three. After 3 the score was 6-2.

The offense was held in check in the top of the fourth batting only four but one was a Smiley double. Everything then went wrong and the Bees scored eleven in the inning. After 4 the score was 6-13.

The Mudcats could not get anything going and gave up a couple more in the inning. After 5 the score was 6-16.

With only three outs left the Mudcats tried to mount a come back but were only able to score one run. Final score was 7-16.

Everyone received stickers and J-Mac turned a double play in the second to receive another. With runners on first and second a sharp ground ball went to J-Mac who tagged the runner and threw to first for the double play.

All the mother received roses for Mothers Day and everyone was happy.
One more game left in the season.

On three MUDCATS!

Meet the Mudcats: Ben Lever

The next player we are going to meet this year is Ben. Ben is a good little ball player with a good arm from the outfield, power in his bat, and has been doing a great job behind the plate. Now lets meet Ben.

Where were you born?

Cary, NC

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

No

Do you have any pets?

No

Do you have a nickname?

Yes "Vinny"

Where do you go to school?

West Lake Elementary

What is your favorite subject?

Writers workshop

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Disney World and my favorite character is Pluto

What is your favorite team and player?

The Yankees and Babe Ruth

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Baseball player

Thank you to Ben for taking the time to share with us and we look forward to watching you the rest of this season.

May 6: Bats at Mudcats

Riding a two game win streak the Mudcats were looking for more offensive against the Bats than their last meeting, in which they scored just one run. On the first base side with the sun beating down on their dugout the Mudcats were ready to take the field first.

The Bats started the game with a hit that rolled to the fence, a nice quick throw into second kept it to only a single. Zach made the first out catching a pop fly in center field. The next two outs were by Adam at first the third coming on a ball in foul territory around the on deck circle forcing him to come sliding in on his knees.

Leyton led off with a single and was followed by a single from Tyler. It looked like things were starting to cook for the Mudcats but a force and then a double play ended things quickly. Things were shaping up for a pitchers duel tonight. After 1 the score was 0-0.

The second started off with sports center highlight number two. In deep right center Leyton caught one over his head that had him laid out on the floor after the great stretch. The Bats did manage one run on three hits in the inning. The Mudcats went quietly in the bottom of the inning. After 2 the score was 1-0.

Four hits in a row started things off for the Bats in the top of the third before a couple of nice defensive plays. The first by Sticks at short who stopped a very hard hit grounder for the force at second. The next was another big fly to center and another big catch by Zach.

The Mudcats cranked the offense up in the third started with a single by Ben. Christopher followed with a single and the Bats started to throw the ball around allowing Ben to score and advanced Christopher to third. Anthony followed with a RBI single down the third base line. Doubles by Tyler and Sticks kept the scoring going. After 3 the score was 3-5.

In the fourth the Bats scored one run but what an ending to the inning it was. On a line drive over the head of J-Mac, some how he managed to time his dive toward left center at the perfect time for the catch. In the bottom we did have a scary moment with a bad hop in the infield. The Bats shortstop took one right on the chin that made every parent there to have a knot in their stomach. He arose from the ground to a cheer from the crowd and the Mudcat players. The Mudcats did score one run in the inning. After 4 the score was 4-6.

The wheels seemed to come off in the fifth where nothing seemed to be going the Mudcats way. J-Mac did come extremely close to turning a double play with a very strong throw to first, but it was not to be and the Mudcats inning. The Bats scored six runs in the inning and put the Mudcats in the hole by four. Charley tried to start things off with a lead off single but the next three batters went in order. After 5 the score was 10-6.

If the Mudcats can hold them they have the top of the lineup coming to bat. Unfortunately that did not happen with the Bats scoring six runs without hitting the ball out of the infield. Three runners were safe by less that two fee and a couple of swinging bunts, which have to be the hardest play to defend, led to all the scoring.

So that was it, the Mudcats went into the bottom half of the sixth down by ten runs. Tyler started off with his third hit of the night. Sticks followed with a RBI double and momentum was starting to build. Adam then hit a RBI single of his own and the lead was shrinking. J-Mac had a single and the Mudcat were down by only seven. Luke came up with one out and J-Mac on base and hit a ground ball to right center and was thrown out at second on a perfect throw by the fielder. Now down by six and with two outs Smiley came up. On another great play by the Bats shortstop he caught a line drive over his head just like J-Mac’s to end the game. Final score was 16-10.

After the game Coach Andrew told the team that is was one of the best games that they had played all year and gave each player a sticker. Stickers were also awarded to Leyton, Zach, Adam, and J-Mac for their outstanding defensive plays during the game.

With the Bats being tied for second in the league the Mudcats gave them a run for there money. Until things came unraveled in the fifth it was a really close game that they could have won. The Mudcats play the Bees next who are one game ahead in the loss column. This looks like a good opportunity for a win.

On three MUDCATS!

Write-up by Frank 
Pictures by Tonya

May 1: Mudcats at Bulls

It was a beautiful Saturday night and it felt just right for baseball. Everyone was in the spirit with the best crowd we have seen all season. The coaches were busy dragging the infield, raking around the bases, and the field was even sprayed with water just like the professionals do it.

Things got off to a great start for the Mudcats in the top of the first, with Leyton hitting his first single of the night. Tyler followed with a line drive double that traveled all the way to the fence. Six more hits in the inning led to a total of six runs and gave the Mudcats a comfortable lead going into the bottom of the inning. A couple of strike outs by the Bulls really hurt there chances of having a big inning. The seventh batter hit a swinging bunt that Charley “Hustle” charged and with a strong throw to first made the third out. After 1 the score was 6-1.

In the second Leyton recorded his second single of the night and was advanced to third by a single by Tyler. Sticks singled and drove in Leyton. Adam had a solid double to put runners at second and third for J-Mac who came through with a two RBI single. In the bottom of the second there was a ground ball to J-Mac who fired to Anthony at second to just beat the hard sliding runner. After 2 the score was 9-1.

Smiley singled to start off the third inning and was driven in by a big drive down the left field line by Christopher for a triple. Charley double next to drive Christopher in and the Mudcats scored two. The Bulls had a break out inning in the third although the Mudcats did have a couple of nice defensive plays. Tyler was at pitcher when a line drive came right back at him, he knocked it down and threw to first for the out. Then on a real short pop to no mans land between first and second behind the pitcher, Adam ranged all the way over to catch it in the air. After 3 the score was 11 to 7.

Tyler started off the fourth with his third of four hits on the night, followed by a single by Sticks. Adam hit his second double of the night picking up another RBI. In the bottom there was a fly ball to third and two more strikeouts. After 4 the score was 13-7.

A couple of singles were all that could be mustered in the fifth by the Mudcats but the defense held thanks to a couple a nice catches. With the biggest hitter the Bulls have, after pounding two or three ball foul that went over the fence, a deep fly ball to left. Christopher who was positioned at the fence came charging in making a spectacular fall down catch. After 5 the score was 13-7.

Four singles in a row and one shot in the gut of Coach Andrew helped the Mudcats score three runs, now all they had to do was hold on for three outs. The first batter hit a pop up that Luke caught at pitcher for out number one. The second batter hit a ground ball to Sticks at third, who had to come up with a strong throw to record out number two. The third batter hit one in that J-Mac had to backhand and it took a full stretch by Adam at first to win the game. Final score was 16-7.

Coach Andrew said that it was the “Best game of the season” played by the Mudcats. All the players received stickers and all the coaches nominated Christopher for an extra sticker for his great catch in left.

Overall, it was a well played game both offensively and defensively and the Mudcats look ready to finish out the season and are poised for a playoff run.

On three MUDCATS!

Write-up  by Frank 
Pictures by Tonya