First, he channeled a little Dickens. "We saw the best and worst of what the Mudcats have to offer," he said. It was the best of times in the first inning, as the Mudcats posted an eight-hit inning for the second straight game, plating six two-out runs to take an early lead. Charley and Big Ben contributed two-out, two-run doubles to help build the lead.
But it was the worst of times in the third inning, as the Bees batted around and turned in their own eight-hit inning. This time, though, the eight hits came with a couple of defensive misplays, leading to eight runs and giving the Bees a lead they would not relinquish.
Coach Andrew turned to Longfellow to sum up the very different innings: "When we were playing defense well, we were really good," he said. "And when we were bad, we were really bad."
There really was a tremendous difference in the first two innings and the subsequent frames. In the first two innings alone, the Mudcats got the following outstanding plays:
1. An outfield assist from Charley
2. A gritty play by LB at pitcher when he took a line drive off his cheek and returned to make several plays defensively while also contributing two hits and a run on offense.
3. Perhaps the season's finest double play so far on a 6-3-5 ground ball. Drew scooped it up and threw to Christopher to get the initial force. Then, with the Bee runner getting too adventurous, Christopher fired across the diamond to Smiley, who applied the tag to end the inning.
The stingy Mudcat defense limited the Bees to just nine at-bats in the first two innings. Unfortunately, they would send 38 batters to the plate over the next four innings.
"We saw the best of our toughness today," Coach Andrew said as he awarded LB two stickers--one for toughness and another for extraordinary toughness in re-entering the game and contributing to the team.
"We saw the best of our focus today," he said as he awarded Christopher and Smiley stickers for their participation in the double play. "We saw the best of our offense, the best of our sportsmanship and the best of our hustle." For personifying all those things and for his usual standout defensive game, Anthony was also awarded a sticker.
"You can be that good all the time," Coach Andrew said. "All six parts of the Mudcat Motto have to be equal. There are three reasons why we play sports."
Here, he decided to quote from Taylor Zarzour, who has sold slightly fewer books than Dickens or Longfellow.
"The reasons we play sports are fellowship, fun, and getting away from the daily grind."
All involved agreed that the daily grind of cleaning rooms and toilets (hey, that's what Coach Andrew said. I think it may be a very tight ship at their house) is very stressful. The only reason it wasn't unanimous is that Coach Mike was nowhere to be found. The last time anyone saw him, he was mumbling something about a noon kickoff and shedding his knee brace in full stride (think Keyser Soze at the end of The Usual Suspects) as Gabe ran frantically behind him shouting, "Dad, I can't keep up!"
Saturday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
For the second straight game, the Mudcats exploded for six runs in the first inning. Smiley started it with a double, then scored on Anthony's single. Chris singled and took second on an errant throw, and then Charley drove in two with a double to left-center. J.J. had the first of his two hits with a single, setting up Big Ben to drive in a pair with a line drive double down the third-base line. After a single from LB moved Big Ben to third, Gabe finished the scoring with an RBI single to right.
Score after one inning: Mudcats 6, Bees 2
Third inning
Drew led off with an infield single, then advanced to second on an errant throw. He moved to third on Anthony's single up the middle. Chris drove in the first of his two runs on the day, and then Charley reached on a fielder's choice. J.J. singled to right, and then the pair of Bens contributed back-to-back RBI.
Score after three innings: Bees 10, Mudcats 9
Fifth inning
Hayes somehow turned a single into a run, staying one base ahead of the Bee throws all the way around the bases. It also enabled Coach Jim to use an innovative new "go" sign in the third-base coaching box, in which he appears to hold up the "stop" sign but secretly gives Hayes a wink and tells him to use his athleticism and sprint past the defense. With the Bees still wondering what hit them, Drew smacked an opposite-field double and moved to third on Anthony's fielder's choice before scoring on Christopher's single up the middle.
Score after five innings: Bees 17, Mudcats 11
Sixth inning
With one out, Big Ben singled up the middle. LB reached on a fielder's choice, then moved to second on Gabe's single. Brenner's shot up the middle was too hot to handle, scoring LB.
Final score: Bees 22, Mudcats 12
Saturday's Web Gems
- Charley fired in his third outfield assist in two games.
- Drew, Christopher and Smiley teamed up on a terrific 6-3-5 double play.
- Anthony made two excellent plays to his right and one standout play to his left, smothering a ball up the middle.
- LB and Brenner both saved bases with a backup.
| Saturday's line score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H |
| Bees | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 27 |
| Mudcats | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 20 |
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