Preseason Scrimmage

In a game very similar to the NFL exhibition season, but without the squabbling over $9 billion, the Mudcats and Bees met Tuesday night in a preseason scrimmage. All the trappings of a regular game were there--the uniforms, the helmets, Cole Bouquin on the PA for at least a cameo appearance, and two rarely-seen rules interpretations for the would-be umpires in the crowd (none of whom would ever yell at the hard-working officials).

The Mudcats started the 2011 scoring--unofficially, of course--in the top of the second, as Charley--who had a three-hit day--rapped a leadoff single. After a double from Hayes, Anthony and Christopher picked up an RBI apiece.

But the Bees, who earned some goodwill by delivering a hand-made and team-signed "Get Well Soon" sign to Drew before the game, responded with six runs in the bottom of the frame. The big inning was built on seven hits, but the Mudcat defense also allowed a couple extra bases that kept the scoring rolling. "I really want us to want the ball when we're in the outfield," Coach Andrew said. "Playing in the grass is just as important as playing in the dirt." Illustrating that point were Chris, Anthony and Zach, all of whom made solid catches in the outfield.

The Mudcats hit a lull in the middle of the game, allowing another big inning and going scoreless in the third and fourth. But a double from Chris and RBI single from Zach in the fifth seemed to ignite the offense, which exploded for seven runs in the sixth. In total, ten different Mudcats picked up base hits in the scrimmage and seven different Mudcats scored runs. In the big inning, the squad batted all the way around, stringing together ten hits in a row and sending Asher to the plate twice in the same frame for the first time in his career. In the postgame press conference, he mentioned he would not mind doing that every game.

"I don't know the score," Coach Andrew told the team, which he then proved by citing a score that seemed a little creative. "We haven't had our win/loss talk. I don't care if we win. I do care if we play to win. Sometimes we're going to do everything right and not win the game and that's not a problem. Sometimes we're going to do some things wrong and still get a 'W,' and that is a problem."

With a busy weekend on the horizon--two practices plus a non-conference scrimmage against North Wake that the teams are considering playing on an aircraft carrier--Coach Andrew issued the following goal for the future: "My goal is to not talk for an entire game," he said, which seemed like a bit of a lofty goal. And while that may not literally happen, the point was well-taken, as he wants the players to take more of a leadership role, especially defensively. If the Mudcats are able to play a whole game without Coach Andrew speaking, it would probably require an all-out Coaches vs. Kids game of wall-ball, in which the kids would likely have the advantage due to the fact that no one has any clue what the rules of that game might be.

Get ready for a very busy Mudcat weekend, as the team will practice at 5 p.m. Friday (at West Raleigh), noon on Saturday (at Kentwood), and scrimmages North Wake at 2 p.m. Sunday. Following the incredibly busy weekend, it is suggested that all kids take their parents to Barbados or some other suitable resort to recover.