Game 4: Mudcats 13, Riverdogs 3

Midway through the top of Saturday's second inning, the Mudcat coaching staff decided they had seen enough. Thanks to a big three-run first inning, the Mudcats still held a 3-2 advantage. But a couple defensive misplays in the infield had plated one run and put two runners on base for the Riverdogs with their dangerous top of the order coming to the plate.

Coach Andrew called for time and called his infield--plus a somewhat overeager right fielder who also joined the huddle--around him. His speech--which will be available for $9.95 per download on Coaching.com in the very near future--must have been fantastic. The next hitter cracked a grounder up the middle, but Anthony fielded it smoothly and flipped to Drew for the force at second. Then, with two outs and the tying run at third base, Drew snagged an infield popup to retire the side and preserve a 3-2 lead.

The Mudcats never looked back in evening their record at 2-2 and dropping the Riverdogs to 1-3. Twelve different Mudcats picked up hits in a 21-hit attack, powering the way to a decisive 13-3 victory that was easily the best all-around performance of the season.

"That," Coach Andrew told the team after the game, "was awesome. That was the most complete game of the season."

The offensive fireworks were keyed by a 12-for-12 effort from the first four batters--Charley, Smiley, Drew and Christopher--in the order. Those four keyed a four-run third inning that cracked open the game by stretching the lead to 8-2. Drew, Christopher and Anthony all picked up RBI in the third.

The offensive fireworks were notable, but the defense was perhaps even more impressive. From the moment Coach Andrew called his infield around him, the Mudcats turned in a series of highlight-reel plays. They finished with three shutout innings in the game, a figure equal to their previous season-long accumulation of zeroes. Anthony's stellar play at second base, fielding everything--including a blistering grounder leading off the third that forced him to range far to his right and make a long throw to retire the hitter--smoothly, earned him a helmet sticker. "That was the best defensive performance by any Mudcat infielder this year," Coach Andrew said.

A helmet sticker was also awarded to Big Ben, who continued to show impressive defensive versatility by making a tough fly ball to right center look routine in the first inning. "That was what got our momentum started," Coach Andrew said of Ben's catch.

There wasn't much drama about whether the entire team would also earn a helmet sticker, as every single Mudcat contributed in some significant fashion to the victory. But in addition to the team-wide stickers, Coach Andrew also introduced a new postgame tradition. "I asked the umpire for the game ball," he said as he held up a well-worn horsehide. "After big wins, I like to put the baseball in my office so I can look at it and remember how awesome you were. This is one I want to remember."

Saturday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Charley, Smiley and Drew strung together three consecutive singles to provide an early 1-0 edge. Christopher followed with a line-drive double down the left-field line to make it 3-0.
Score after one inning: Mudcats 3, Riverdogs 1

Second inning
Gabe led off with an infield single and moved to second on JJ's single. Asher singled up the middle to score Gabe.
Score after two innings: Mudcats 4, Riverdogs 2.

Third inning
The top of the order again produced, as Charley led off with a double. He moved to third on Smiley's single and scored on Drew's single, as some trouble in the Riverdog outfield plated another Mudcat run. Christopher picked up his second double of the day to score Drew, and Anthony completed the scoring with an RBI single.
Score after three innings: Mudcats 8, Riverdogs 2.

Fifth inning
LB started the inning with a line-drive single to center. Charley and Smiley hit back-to-back singles to load the bases, and then Drew cleared them with a 3-RBI double. Christopher picked up an RBI for the third straight at-bat with a single, after Hayes singled, Big Ben closed the scoring--due to the 10-run rule, which states teams can only score five runs in an inning in which they take a 10-run lead--with an RBI single.
Score after five innings: Mudcats 13, Riverdogs 3.


Saturday's Web Gems

• Anthony's entire game goes in this category, but especially his third-inning stop of a sizzling grounder. He moved to his right, smothered the ball, and made the long throw to first to get the out.
• The Mudcats made several nice plays on fly balls, including Big Ben's grab in right-center.
• LB turned in a solid game at pitcher, fielding two pop-ups and two ground balls flawlessly.

Saturday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Riverdogs	1	1	0	1	0	0	3	15
Mudcats	3	1	4	0	5	X	13	21