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!
Pictures by Tonya
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