In Thursday night's fall 2010 season opener, the margin on the scoreboard was wider, as the Scrappers took a 14-5 victory. But the separation between the two teams was much thinner, with the Mudcats falling victim to one big Scrapper inning that proved to be the difference.
The Mudcats immediately broke in the snazzy new black game jerseys with two runs in the top of the first, keyed by the first of three line-drive singles for Smiley, a one-out double from Sticks, and a two-out, two-strike RBI single by Charley. "I was very proud of how
yougot out there on this stage in front of this crowd and came out the way you did," Coach Andrew told the team after the game.The Scrappers battled back with three runs in the bottom of the first, and after both teams went scoreless in the second, the Scrappers opened up the game in the bottom of the third. They pounded out eight of their 23 hits in that frame, sending 11 hitters to the plate and scoring six times. They followed that with five runs in the bottom of the fourth, stretching the advantage to a daunting 14-2.
There were signs, perhaps, that both innings could have been snuffed out a little sooner. "The difference in competing and not competing in this game is being down and ready on every pitch and hustling on every play," Coach Andrew said. That meant the Mudcats did not fulfill the challenge from last week's scrimmage, when they were told that creeping on every pitch and giving full focus at all times would result in a windfall of two stickers per player. However, Coach Andrew reissued the challenge for Saturday's game, meaning that complete focus could still generate the double-sticker reward. "It's a whole different ballgame with the difference between this (standing lazily, arms slack at his sides) and this (poised on the balls of his feet, knees bent and eyes forward)," he told his team. "Top to bottom, we are better than we showed tonight."
The Mudcats did flash that potential in the fifth. Trailing 14-2, they were in danger of seeing the game end before a full six innings unless they could retire the Scrappers in fewer than 10 minutes. Perhaps inspired by the hustle being flashed on the pitcher's mound, they pulled off a 1-2-3 inning that enabled the game to continue into the sixth, when the Mudcats--who also posted a rally in the final scrimmage inning against the Bees, scoring six runs in the sixth--put together a mini-rally that produced three runs. "You gave yourself a chance to win with the way you played in that 1-2-3 inning," Coach Andrew said. "Do you realize how good you could be if you do that every time? Going forward, that's what we're going to do. We're going to be down and ready, and we're going to be ready to play on every pitch of every game."
Saturday's game begins at 1 p.m. with pregame at noon. The Mudcats will also be participating in the opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. No word on whether those ceremonies will include the lighting of the official West Raleigh torch (perhaps lit by a flaming baseball thrown from home plate?) and/or live commentary from Bob Costas.
Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Smiley singled for the first of his three hits. With one out, Sticks ripped a double to right-center, scoring Smiley. Charley put together a terrific two-out at-bat, stretching the count to two strikes before he punched the ball up the middle to score Sticks.
Score after one-half inning: Mudcats 2, Scrappers 0
Sixth inning
With one out, Smiley again lined a single to center. Christopher drove a single to left, and Sticks picked up his second RBI with a single up the middle. After a fielder's choice, Charley singled to right for his second RBI, and Big Ben closed the scoring with an RBI single to right.
Final score: Scrappers 14, Mudcats 5
Thursday's Web Gems
There were signs, perhaps, that both innings could have been snuffed out a little sooner. "The difference in competing and not competing in this game is being down and ready on every pitch and hustling on every play," Coach Andrew said. That meant the Mudcats did not fulfill the challenge from last week's scrimmage, when they were told that creeping on every pitch and giving full focus at all times would result in a windfall of two stickers per player. However, Coach Andrew reissued the challenge for Saturday's game, meaning that complete focus could still generate the double-sticker reward. "It's a whole different ballgame with the difference between this (standing lazily, arms slack at his sides) and this (poised on the balls of his feet, knees bent and eyes forward)," he told his team. "Top to bottom, we are better than we showed tonight."
The Mudcats did flash that potential in the fifth. Trailing 14-2, they were in danger of seeing the game end before a full six innings unless they could retire the Scrappers in fewer than 10 minutes. Perhaps inspired by the hustle being flashed on the pitcher's mound, they pulled off a 1-2-3 inning that enabled the game to continue into the sixth, when the Mudcats--who also posted a rally in the final scrimmage inning against the Bees, scoring six runs in the sixth--put together a mini-rally that produced three runs. "You gave yourself a chance to win with the way you played in that 1-2-3 inning," Coach Andrew said. "Do you realize how good you could be if you do that every time? Going forward, that's what we're going to do. We're going to be down and ready, and we're going to be ready to play on every pitch of every game."
Saturday's game begins at 1 p.m. with pregame at noon. The Mudcats will also be participating in the opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. No word on whether those ceremonies will include the lighting of the official West Raleigh torch (perhaps lit by a flaming baseball thrown from home plate?) and/or live commentary from Bob Costas.
Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Smiley singled for the first of his three hits. With one out, Sticks ripped a double to right-center, scoring Smiley. Charley put together a terrific two-out at-bat, stretching the count to two strikes before he punched the ball up the middle to score Sticks.
Score after one-half inning: Mudcats 2, Scrappers 0
Sixth inning
With one out, Smiley again lined a single to center. Christopher drove a single to left, and Sticks picked up his second RBI with a single up the middle. After a fielder's choice, Charley singled to right for his second RBI, and Big Ben closed the scoring with an RBI single to right.
Final score: Scrappers 14, Mudcats 5
Thursday's Web Gems
- In the first inning, Hayes made a shoestring catch of a fly ball in left-center that saved multiple runs. Hayes was awarded a helmet sticker for his solid defensive play, quality at-bats, and all-around hustle.
- In the 1-2-3 fifth, both middle infielders made quality plays. First, it was second baseman Anthony ranging far to his right to stop a hard ground ball. He then had the presence of mind to make a strong throw to Christopher at first base to easily retire the hitter.
- On the very next batter, Sticks came across the middle of the diamond from his shortstop position, smoothly made the play on a ground ball, and completed the play with a solid throw to first to retire the side.
- The night's other helmet sticker went to Asher, who zoomed in from right field--with his parents holding their collective breath that his very roomy pants wouldn't fall down when he ran--to back up an errant throw at first base, saving a potential extra base.
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