Game #5: Bats 20, Mudcats 7

The Mudcats might be taking this whole student-athlete thing a little too seriously. Obviously distracted by the need to focus on school the next day, the studious Mudcats fell 20-7 to the Bats on Thursday night. The loss dropped the squad's overall record to 2-3, with all three losses coming during the week.

The numbers are perplexing. The Mudcats average 13.5 runs per game during weekend games, but have never scored more than seven in a weeknight game. In the two weekend games combined, they're outscoring opponents 27-13. But during the week, they're being outscored 47-17.

The Bats continued the trend right away, plating four runs with two outs in the first inning. By the time they followed with five runs in the second, the Mudcats were in a quick 9-0 hole after two innings.

Once all thoughts of homework were banished, the Mudcats--as usual--fought back. A leadoff single from LB ignited a five-run rally in the fourth. The top of the order contributed three doubles--one each from Smiley, Drew and Anthony--to fuel the comeback.

More often, however, Mudcat hits found the gloves of the Bats, who turned in one of the best team-wide defensive performances of the young season, with sparkling plays all over the infield. The Mudcat defense also made some key plays, especially in the bottom of the fifth inning, when they needed to get three outs in less than 10 minutes in order to have the opportunity to play the sixth inning. Anthony steadily hauled in a high pop fly and Smiley alertly fielded a sharp grounder and stepped on third to end the inning and preserve the chance for one more at-bat.

"We earned that last inning," said Coach Jim. "We got three quick outs when we needed them."

Coach Rob awarded helmet stickers to Smiley and Anthony for combining on the season's first double play, a well-turned 5-4 combination in the second inning. Hayes--who also drove in a pair of runs with a single--earned a sticker with his outfield assist in the third inning.

Following the game, Coach Rob acknowledged that the team had not earned the promised 10 minutes of wall ball time from a weeknight victory. "Would Coach Andrew be proud?" he asked. Getting a somewhat lukewarm response, he followed up with, "Did you play hard? Did you have fun? Did you do your best?" Getting much more positive responses to those questions, he awarded a sticker to the entire team for persevering in the face of unusual circumstances, as Coach Andrew spent the evening getting blisters on his thumbs from firing off many text messages and trying to break the world record for root beer consumed.

The next Mudcat action comes Friday night at 5 p.m. The next game is--yes!--on a weekend, with a 3:30 first pitch on Saturday against the Thunder.


Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
Fourth inning
LB led off with a single. After a fielder's choice, Smiley doubled, and then Drew doubled, scoring Smiley with the first Mudcat run. After Chris singled, Anthony drove in Drew and Smiley with a line drive double. Hayes completed the scoring with a two-RBI single up the middle.
Score after three and a half innings: Bats 12, Mudcats 5

Fifth inning
JJ finally figured out how to beat the Bat shortstop, beating out the throw for a leadoff single. Asher singled, sending JJ to third, and then Brenner picked up the RBI with an infield single to the right side.
Score after four and a half innings: Bats 17, Mudcats 6

Sixth inning
Smiley doubled deep down the left-field line, then scored on Drew's single.
Final score: Bats 20, Mudcats 7

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.


Thursday's Web Gems

• You have to start with the double play. Smiley fielded a hard ground ball down the third base line and stepped on third base to record the force. Then he alertly fired to second, where Anthony was covering to convert the back end of the twin killing.



• Hayes charged a ground ball hard from his center field position, scooped up the grounder, and threw to second to get an outfield assist on a third-inning force play.



• Anthony played a towering pop-up perfectly in the fifth inning.

Thursday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Mudcats	0	0	0	5	1	1	7	14
Bats	4	5	3	5	3	X	20	29