That's not how it was supposed to be. The reason we made the commitment to four practices/games per week was because winning does matter. We wanted real tryouts. We didn't want everyone to get a trophy. We wanted to keep score. We wanted to have a win-loss record at the end of the season.
We got all those things, and I am pleased to report that I don't believe anyone's growth was stunted from the emotional impact of having to accept losing a game or two. But we got something else that I don't think we expected: a real team.
At first, I thought the reason the Mudcats seemed to have such tremendous chemistry was because we were all thrown together four times per week. I thought maybe everyone who had to be together four times per week got along with each other. I thought all West Raleigh teams were like this, with shirt fairies and detailed practice plans and Google calendars.
But as we started seeing more teams, it became obvious that the fall 2010 Mudcats were unique. And around the midpoint of the season, it became clear that there's a difference between playing West Raleigh baseball and playing West Raleigh Mudcats baseball. The former is a crash course in serious baseball. The latter is a crash course in serious baseball...and how to be on a team.
It helped that the players genuinely seemed to like each other. I don't remember filling out a personality test during registration, but somehow the group that was assembled in the fall of 2010 fit perfectly.
Much of the credit has to go to the six returnees--Drew, Christopher, Anthony, Gabe, Smiley and Charley--who never seemed unwilling to help the new guys figure out what was going on. Making the jump from other rec baseball leagues to West Raleigh is like going from training wheels to riding a Harley. It would have been easy for the veterans to get frustrated. Outwardly, at least, they never did. As Coach Andrew said after the game, "At our first practice it was almost like we had two teams, and those two teams came together."
When our friends in Chapel Hill asked how the season was going, we gave glowing reviews. Knowing we went to West Raleigh seeking a certain level of competitiveness, their next question was almost always, "So, you're winning a lot of games?"
Well, no. And yes, the Mudcats lost on Saturday, falling 15-8 to the Riverdogs in the final game of the season for both squads. This time next week, I doubt I'm going to remember that score. But I know for sure I'll remember the scene 30 minutes after the final pitch, when a herd of Mudcats were still playing an impromptu football game near the concession stand. You couldn't help but look around, and when you did you noticed something: there was not a single Riverdog anywhere around...except for their head coach, who was sitting alone on a bench, watching the Mudcats play football, with the kids laughing and high-fiving as they decided who got to play quarterback.
Saturday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Drew drove in Charley--who once again had two hits from the leadoff spot--with a fielder's choice.
Score after one-half inning: Mudcats 1, Riverdogs 0
Second inning
Anthony led off with a single, then moved all the way to third after the Riverdog infield had trouble handling a hard shot off the bat of J.J. Gabe's RBI single drove in Anthony.
Score after one and a half innings: Mudcats 2, Riverdogs 2
Fourth inning
Hayes singled leading off the inning, then motored all the way around to score on Smiley's hard-hit double. Smiley scored all the way from second, despite the protests of the splendidly-shod opposing coach, after an errant throw at first base.
Score after three and a half innings: Mudcats 4, Riverdogs 4
Fifth inning
Brenner started the rally by beating a close play at first. Tyler quickly gave the Mudcats two baserunners, and Charley drove home Brenner with a single to left. Three straight singles scored Tyler, and then Drew drove in a pair with another single.
Score after four and a half innings: Riverdogs 11, Mudcats 8
Saturday's Web Gems
- Christopher played a flawless first base, including three unassisted putouts.
- Anthony made a deceptively difficult play, backing up on a pop fly over his head and easily gathering it to end the first inning.
- Charley had a hand in all three outs in the second inning. He caught a pop-up for the first out, then threw to first twice in a row to retire the Riverdogs without a run.
| Saturday's line score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H |
| Mudcats | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 11 |
| Riverdogs | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | X | 15 | 16 |
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