Summer recap

Officially, the first day of summer in 2012 was June 20. Unofficially, the first "real" day of summer is today, when the last Mudcat (or in one case, former Mudcat) completed his summer season. A quick recap of what happened in summer ball for the All Blacks in competition for the various West Raleigh summer teams:

Christopher Gruskin, who last played for the Mudcats in the spring of 2011, played with the 9U West Raleigh Red squad. They finished in third place this weekend at the Summer Championship event in Greensboro.

Zach Hurand, who last played for the Mudcats in the spring of 2011, played with the 9U West Raleigh Blue team. With Zach handling almost every inning at catcher, 9U Blue won the Southeast Regional championship today in Gaffney, S.C., with a 13-3 win over Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

Brady Dunlap, a 2012 Mudcats alum, played with the 8U West Raleigh Red team. Brady played both second base and outfield, and made a key defensive play getting a forceout from the outfield in the championship game as Red won the Tarheel state title today with a 5-1 win in Shelby over Rolesville.

Brady was joined on the Red team by Bryce Friedlander, another 2012 alum. Bryce played first base--where he dug out several throws in the title game today to preserve the great defensive performance by the Red team--and outfield for the state champs.

The third Mudcat member of the Red team was '12 Mudcat Donovan Shepard, who hit leadoff, flew around the bases, and made a terrific catch in centerfield in the title game--in other words, a typical Donovan game.

The achievements of the Red team are even more prolific considering they had to hit off the dreaded southpaw, Coach Andy, who wasn't above throwing the occasional brushback pitch just to keep the hitters loose. 

Yet another eight-year-old, Charley Hegeman, played for the 8U Blue team that won the southeast regional championship last weekend in Alabama. Charley is a 2012 Mudcat alum (are you getting the feeling the 'Cats are losing a lot of key players?). 

Gavin Gallaher, a seven-year-old in 2012, played for the ENC state champion 7U Blue team. Gavin played almost every inning at shortstop and was one of the team's leading hitters for a 7U team that blew their way through the state tournament in Wilson. The 7U team was coached by Coach Sean, who was mostly interested in throwing water balloons at the coaching staff.

Asher Lucas was also a member of the 7U team, and spent most of his time at catcher, where he consistently drew quizzical looks from opposing hitters wondering why the catcher was constantly shouting the current outs and game situation.

Tournament game 4: Bees 10, Mudcats 7

An incredibly fun season came to an end Thursday night at Nowell Field, as the Bees scored eight runs in the first two innings and held off the Mudcats in the late innings for a 10-7 win. The win advances the Bees to the championship round against the Riverdogs.

The first three innings were fairly uncharacteristic, as the 'Cats picked up just three hits the first time through the order and had some lapses in the field. But trailing 8-0 after three, Coach Sean challenged them to give a quality effort over the final three innings and see what happens. The defense responded by allowing just four hitters to come to the plate in the fourth, and then the offense chipped away at the deficit with three runs in the bottom of the inning. That set the stage for a furious sixth-inning rally, as the All Blacks eventually brought the tying run to the plate, prompting even the Bees head coach, who was very gracious in victory, to tell the 'Cats after the game, "I was trying to tell my team I wasn't worried, but I was worried!"

Several team events remain, including Tuesday's closing ceremonies at 7 p.m. and Wednesday's final team party. In the meantime, tonight marked the final game in the Minor League for the eight-year-olds. They are:

Christopher: As Coach Sean said after Thursday's game, Christopher was always one of the loudest Mudcats in the dugout. Even a midseason wrist injury couldn't slow down his enthusiasm for baseball, and he continued to be a vital part of the team--even when he didn't have to be.

Noah: A two-season Mudcat, Noah showed rapid improvement over his two seasons in the all black uniforms. His bat turned into a weapon in the middle of the order, and he picked up some key hits in the second half of the season. He earned a spot at catcher and usually filled that role in the first two innings, where he was stellar behind the plate.

Donovan: Moved to leadoff midway through the season, his ferocious bat speed and tremendous footspeed on the bases were the primary catalysts for the Mudcat offense. In his first year with the Mudcats, he was among the team leaders in runs scored, hits, and doubles.

Charley: A three-year Mudcat, Charley settled in at third base this season and was very consistent on defense. His experience in the league was invaluable to the younger players--no matter what happened, Charley could always explain the play or provide some insight into what was happening. Charley led the team in RBI and hits this season.

Bryce: In his first year with the Mudcats, Bryce solidified the first base position and made himself into one of the best players in the league at that position. He caught fire offensively over the last month, and reached base in seven of his last nine trips to the plate. He was consistently one of the most vocal Mudcats in the field and always a supportive teammate.

Brady: Originally, I was convinced that Brady was part of Coach Mike's master plan to turn Asher into an NC State fan. It turned out, thought, that Brady was a natural on the diamond. His line drive stroke was essential to the top half of the All Blacks order, and he developed into a solid second baseman with tremendous range. In 18 games of standing in the dugout, I never heard him say one negative word to a teammate.

Gabe: It is hard to imagine the Mudcats without Gabe on the team. Not just because I'm not sure who will keep the field in pristine condition, but because he was always the most eager to be part of everything that was going on at the field. Play pickle? Gabe is there. Play wall ball? Yep. Buying drinks for the whole team? Sure. It sums him up that when the Bees needed to borrow a chest protector during Thursday's game, it was Gabe who wanted to be the one to hand-deliver it to them each inning, and to recover it from them after three outs. He also was one of the 'Cats most consistent hitters all season, finishing among the team leaders in batting average and hits.

We also lose three coaches after this season. They are:

Coach Andy: In his one and only season with the Mudcats, Coach Andy had a Dimaggio-esque record of always being the first person at the field. By the final month of the season, Asher would always scour the parking lot to see if, by chance, we beat Coach Andy and Bryce to the field. It never happened. In addition to his tireless work at practices, before games, and occasionally in the third-base coaching box, Coach Andy was also one of the centerpieces of the rowdy fans down the first base line, where they could safely talk about important issues such as why the coaches kept messing up all the time.

Coach Tom: I think Coach Tom would take this as the highest possible compliment, which is exactly how it is meant--on most nights, I think he may have had more fun at the baseball field than anyone over the age of eight. Good for a positive word for anyone who was feeling a little down, Coach Tom at one time or another called everyone on the roster, "My favorite Mudcat." A little-known fact about Coach Tom: he has a greater collection of baseball tools and toys than anyone in America. No matter what hitting problem you are having, Coach Tom probably has a gadget that can help solve the problem--and he'll likely be even more excited than you are when that work translates to the field in the next game.

Coach Mike: Asher was drafted onto the Mudcats in the fall of 2010. When GM Jenn was telling me about the coaching staff, she said, "One of our coaches is a huge State fan." We live in Chapel Hill, where they have not invented State fans yet, but I grew up in Cary, so I thought I remembered something about State fans. The very first day I met Coach Mike, he said, "Did Marvin Austin give you those blue shorts as a gift?" I was wondering what we had gotten ourselves into. What he taught both Asher and me is that it is possible to hate everything about Carolina (except Woody Durham) and still be a great guy. I secretly think Coach Mike has a little Carolina in him, and I think he secretly thinks I have a little State in me. Maybe that is true on both sides. I just know I feel very lucky that no matter who he cheers for in his spare time, that he coached Asher and all the rest of the Mudcats for two years.

One of Coach Mike's greatest achievements is that he somehow persuaded Team Photographer Tonya to put up with him. We probably take it for granted that after every game, there are going to be terrific photos on the blog. Just so you know, that's not the case for any other team. She somehow managed to juggle taking care of a big kid--not Gabe or Luke, but Coach Mike--with also being at the West Raleigh field virtually every night to watch Gabe and Luke, all while taking great pictures.

Now that the season is over, it's probably OK to reveal some Mudcat secrets. For example, remember those high-level strategy talks held by the 'Cats in the corner of the outfield before each game? You probably thought that was about making defensive plays and getting good swings, right? Well, not exactly. This is how I'm going to remember the 2012 Mudcats, although some of the questionable dancing by a certain #10 makes me question what his mother has been teaching him.


Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
Fourth inning
The offense awoke in the fourth, as Donovan ignited the rally with a one-out single. After a fielder's choice, the 'Cats put three two-out runs on the board, capped with an RBI single from Brady that scored Bryce.
Score after four innings: Bees 8, Mudcats 3


Sixth inning
With the dugout gaining confidence with every hitter, the Mudcats threw a major scare into the Bees with a sixth-inning rally. Ben started it off with a leadoff single, the second of his two hits on the night. With one out, Channing drove in Ben with a single. Donovan ripped a single to left, then moved to second on Charley's single. With the bases loaded, Bryce picked up two RBI with a hard-hit single to left. Brady completed the scoring with a hard-to-handle drive to the shortstop.
Final score: Bees 10, Mudcats 7

Thursday's Web Gems

• Donovan made a leaping catch in left-center to rub a Bee of extra bases in the second inning.
• Will made a terrific snag of a fly ball in right-center to help the 'Cats hold the Bees scoreless in the third and keep the game within range.
• Noah made a tough play look easy leading off the fifth, snagging a fly ball down the line.
• On the very next hitter, Bryce made a diving stop of a hard line drive that looked headed down the first base line for a double. 

Thursday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Bees	4	4	0	0	2	0	10	17
Mudcats	0	0	0	3	0	4	7	12

It's the Bees

The Bees defeated the Lookouts, 10-2, on Tuesday night. That means the Bees advance to face the Mudcats on Wednesday at 5:30. Pregame begins at 4:30. The winner advances to the championship round against the Riverdogs.

Tournament game 3: Riverdogs 11, Mudcats 1

The Mudcats suffered their first loss of the postseason Monday, falling 11-1 to the Riverdogs.

The 'Cats stayed close through two innings, as some solid defense limited the 'Dogs to just three runs in the first two innings. But the Riverdog defense was also making virtually every play--in fact, they played an errorless game, a major factor in holding the Mudcats to just six hits and one run. The big inning was the third, when the Riverdogs smacked a pair of home runs (they finished with three in the game) and plated six runs.

Coach Sean emphasized focus and effort to the team after the game. "Every time you leave the field, I want everyone to feel like they gave their best effort," he told them.

The loss means the next game is Wednesday night at 5:30 against the winner of Tuesday night's Lookouts-Bees game. Pregame on Wednesday begins at 4:30.

As a reminder, the postseason bracket is available here.

Monday's Mudcat scoring plays
Fourth inning
Even on a day when the 'Cats got just one run, it--as usual--came with two outs. With two down, Donovan, Gavin and Brady strung together three straight singles to put the All Blacks on the board. Of the Mudcats' 23 runs in the postseason, 13 have come with two outs.
Score after three and a half innings: Riverdogs 9, Mudcats 1

Monday's Web Gems

• While straddling the foul line, Colin made a nifty catch of a line drive in left field in the first inning and foreshadowed a day that saw Coach Sean describe him as "being all over the place." He also spent time at pitcher, where he helped combine to make six of the game's 15 outs from the pitcher position.
• Brenner cleanly picked up a one-hop rocket to right-center in the fifth and immediately fired it into second, holding the Riverdog leadoff man to a single.
• Charley made a pair of catches of hard line drives in left-center in the fifth, short-circuiting what would have been a very big Riverdog inning.

Monday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Mudcats	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	6
Riverdogs	1	2	6	0	2	X	11	15

Tournament game 2: Mudcats 18, Lookouts 9

The Mudcats broke out the most potent offense of the season, smashing a season-high 23 hits and getting at least one hit from every player in the batting order on the way to an 18-9 win over the Lookouts. The victory keeps the All Blacks in the winner's bracket and advances them to a game against the Riverdogs on Monday at 5:30.

The day got off to an inauspicious beginning when Coach Sean took a ball off the spine in pregame BP, then took another one off the skull. You may notice him with some new equipment on Monday. Not surprisingly, he played through it, and may have pitched one of his best games. Do we have any volunteers to hit the ball off him on Monday?

The 'Cats showed some immediate resiliency when the Lookouts scored four quick runs in the top of the first. Undeterred, the Mudcats answered with four of their own, highlighted by Gavin's opposite field two-run home run. That was just the start of a hailstorm of offense, with runs in four of the five offensive innings. And, as Coach Mike pointed out after the game, the hits came from up and down the order. The top half of the order scored nine runs, and the bottom half of the order added an additional nine. Three of the four scoring frames were ignited by a leadoff hitter in the bottom half of the order.

Astute observers may have noticed a suspicious looking man attempting to make a covert cell phone call in the outfield in the late innings. The reason became clear as soon as the two teams shook hands, as Gabe shouted, "See Coach Mike for your Cook-Out milkshake!" That's right, Coach Mike was making good on his previous promise, and the 'Cats were the envy of every team in West Raleigh when a box full of milkshakes were delivered.

Coach Sean has been so busy awarding himself stickers for toughness that he is now totally out of them, so none were handed out on Saturday. However, he promised to try and replenish his supply before Monday night. Pregame for the Riverdogs game starts at 4:30.

As a reminder, the postseason bracket is available here.

Saturday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Donovan led off by smoking a double, and then Gavin--on his way to a 3-for-3, 3 RBI day--crushed an opposite-field two-run home run. Brady and Charley followed with back-to-back singles. Bryce doubled in Brady, and then Gabe's fielder's choice scored Charley and tied the score.
Score after one inning: Mudcats 4, Lookouts 4


Second inning
Brenner got it started with a one-out single, then moved to second on Will's single. A fielder's choice from Channing put two runners in scoring position for Donovan, who promptly scored both of them with a single up the middle. Gavin's single to left scored Donovan.
Score after two innings: Mudcats 7, Lookouts 4


Fourth inning
Only the 10-run rule stopped the 'Cats from fully batting around. Colin picked up the first of his two hits with a hard-hit single to center. Noah drove in Colin with a double to left. Ben's tough to handle grounder put runners on the corners, and then Brenner picked up an RBI with a fielder's choice. Will singled, putting runners at the corners again, and Channing singled in Ben. With two down, Gavin singled, and then Brady roped a two-run single back up the middle. Charley, Bryce and Gabe strung together three straight RBI singles to activate the 10-run rule. Five of the eight runs in the frame crossed the plate with two outs.
Score after four innings: Mudcats 15, Lookouts 5

Fifth inning
Asher reached on an error, then scored on Colin's line drive to right-center. Noah cracked another hard hit ball to center, and then Brenner and Will picked up RBI singles to complete the Mudcat scoring.
Score after five innings: Mudcats 18, Lookouts 5

Saturday's Web Gems

• Donovan decided to defer his traditional first-inning catch in the outfield to the second inning, racing in to make a grab after the leadoff Lookout had reached in the second.
• Two batters later, with runners on first and second, Charley scooped up a ground ball at third, stepped on third to get the force, and threw to Brady at second to convert the inning-ending double play.
• A huge momentum-building play ended the third. With one run already in, former Mudcat Ben Penchuk picked up the third of his three hits on the day on a bullet to shortstop. Gavin knocked it down and threw to first too late to get the speedy runner. The Lookouts tried to score their runner from third, and Bryce alertly came up firing from first base. Ben threw off his catcher's helmet, got into position in front of the plate, received the throw and made the tag to end the inning.
• Gavin went deep in the hole between short and third in the fourth to pick up a grounder, and then Bryce made a long stretch to nab the runner by a quarter of a step.
• Gavin made two very similar plays in the fifth and the sixth, racing back onto the edge of the outfield grass to haul in a pair of difficult pop flies.
• Brady made back-to-back tough plays in the sixth. Each ball was hit hard, and he had to range to his right at second base. He knocked down both balls and got force outs at second base on each one to thwart a potential Lookouts rally.

Saturday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Lookouts	4	0	1	0	0	4	9	12
Mudcats	4	3	0	8	3	X	18	23

Tournament game 1: Mudcats 4, Bulls 1

Playing under foreboding skies and dodging raindrops after a one-hour rain delay, the Mudcats won their tournament opener on Thursday night, edging the Bulls 4-1 in a defensive battle. The game featured a series of highlight reel plays from the All Blacks defense that kept the Bulls off the scoreboard until the fifth. The victory avenged an earlier loss to the Bulls and moved the 'Cats into Saturday's 3 p.m. winner's bracket matchup with the Lookouts at 3 p.m.

After a pair of nearly 30-minute delays, during which the Mudcats sat quietly under the shelter, both teams played stellar defense through the first three innings. The Bulls did manage to get three baserunners in the top of the first, and had runners on second and third with two outs, but Bryce caught a pop fly to end the threat. Stellar 'Cat defense resulted in the Bulls getting just one more runner as far as second base for the rest of the game, and that came on a line drive home run in the fifth. The All Blacks very nearly played flawless defense, as even the rare miscue was erased by a solid play from a teammate, as when Ben picked up a wayward throw to first in the fifth and hosed the overaggressive runner at second base.

To keep up with all the tournament possibilities, use the West Raleigh bracket that is being updated after each game. Saturday's pregame begins at 2 p.m.

Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
Fourth inning
The only Mudcat runs of the game came in the fourth, and they all came with two outs. Donovan legged out a single and moved to second on a fielder's choice. With two down, Brady lofted a fly ball towards first that couldn't be handled, and Donovan hustled all the way around to score. Charley crushed a triple to left, scoring Brady, and then scored on Bryce's double. Gabe finished the scoring with a single to left.
Score after four innings: Mudcats 4, Bulls 0

Thursday's Web Gems

• Donovan continued his pattern of making a big early play in the outfield, snagging a first-inning line drive to hold the Bulls scoreless in the opening frame.
• Brady showed heart by taking a tumble at the bottom of the first and getting up gingerly, but then recovering in time to record the first out of the second inning on a pop fly to second.
• Gavin stayed with a grounder that had been redirected off a glove with two outs in the second, came up with the ball, and fired a good throw to first to end the inning.
• Ben pounced on a ball that was tapped in front of the plate and fired to first to record the rare 2-3 putout. 
• Gabe hustled in from pitcher to make a diving catch of a fly ball with one out in the fourth.
• Ben did a terrific job of backing up first base on the third hitter of the fifth. That put him into position to grab an errant throw and fire a rocket to second, where Brady did a solid job of receiving the throw and then putting the tag on the runner trying to advance from first to second.

Thursday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Bulls	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4
Mudcats	0	0	0	4	0	X	4	7

Tournament opener tomorrow

Today's previously forecast bad weather never materialized in the West Raleigh area, and tonight's tournament game was played as scheduled. That means the Mudcats will indeed play the Bulls on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., with pregame at 4:30.

The Bulls-Mudcats winner plays the Lookouts (8-7 winners over the Bees) on Saturday at 3. The Mudcats-Bulls loser plays the Bees on Saturday at 11.

Hold on just a second

Never mind that earlier post. It looks like West Raleigh has done the sensible thing and simply rescheduled tonight's rainout for Friday rather than shifting all games. That means, at the moment, that the Mudcats are still slated to play at 5:30 on Thursday, with pregame at 4:30.

However, with the weather being uncertain, further rainouts and schedule adjustments are possible. Keep an eye on your email and the blog for more details.

Practice rained out, games impacted

Games at West Raleigh tonight are rained out, which means the scheduled Mudcats practice is also rained out.

Tonight's rainout also has an impact on Thursday's scheduled tournament opener against the Bulls. In all likelihood, that game will be rescheduled for Friday. Stay tuned for further updates and keep in mind that further rainouts this week could have additional scheduling implications.

Game 14: Mudcats 13, Thunder 12

The Mudcats finished the regular season with a 13-12 win over the Thunder. The victory gave the 'Cats sole possession of second place, and completed a regular season sweep of the Thunder, with both wins coming by the same narrow margin and score.

The victory was not exactly a defensive clinic, but the All Blacks brought their best offense, scoring in every inning except the sixth (and they would've scored in the sixth if not for former Mudcat Tyler Key robbing Brenner with a sweet catch in the outfield). The 'Cats piled up 16 hits and had four different players reach base in all three of their at-bats. Alums Drew DiMeo and Ben Penchuk were on hand for the win. You might remember Ben as the 'Cat formerly known as LB. He is now known as "GS" after crushing a grand slam in the Lookouts win on Saturday.

The All Blacks victory marked the unofficial "senior day" for the Mudcat 8-year-olds, who played their final regular season game on Nowell Field. Each player was introduced individually before the game, and Coach Sean presented game balls to Gabe, Charley, Brady, Donovan, Bryce, Christopher and Noah.

Coach Sean and Coach Mike also provided some significant motivation for the tournament, which begins for the Mudcats on Thursday night with a 5:30 matchup against the Bulls. Coach Mike said the first postseason win would mean a candy bar for every 'Cat (parents, sadly, are not included in the offer). The second win will mean a Cook-Out shake for every player, and the third win means a pizza party. Coach Sean then made the somewhat rash declaration that if the Mudcats win the tournament championship, he will take a pie in the face and the players can shave his head.

The 'Cats do have practice before the first tournament game, as they practice at West Raleigh on Monday night from 6:30-8:30.

Final tournament seedings are as follows:

1. Riverdogs
2. Mudcats
3. Lookouts
4. Bats
5. Thunder
6. Bees
7. Bulls
8. Scrappers

As a reminder, the postseason bracket is available here.

Saturday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Gavin smacked a two-out double, moved to third on a fielder's choice, and scored on Charley's single. Bryce, who hit the ball hard all day, drove home Charley with a two-out double.
Score after one-half inning: Mudcats 2, Thunder 0


Second inning
Asher led off with a single and moved to second on a one-out fielder's choice from Noah. The Thunder had trouble fielding Ben's single cleanly, and then Brenner added an RBI fielder's choice to stretch the lead.
Score after one and a half innings: Mudcats 4, Thunder 2


Third inning
Channing reached to lead off the inning and set up one of the biggest frames of the day. Donovan doubled, and with two men in scoring position, Gavin laced a two-RBI double the other way. He moved to third on Brady's single, then scored on Charley's hard-hit grounder to the left side. Asher finished the scoring with a two-out single.
Score after two and a half innings: Mudcats 8, Thunder 2

Fourth inning
Ben reached with one out, then hustled all the way to third on Brenner's single. Will plated Ben with an RBI fielder's choice.
Score after three and a half innings: Mudcats 9, Thunder 5

Fifth inning
Donovan led off with a single to left. Gavin finished a 3-for-3 day with an RBI single, then moved to third on Charley's double. Bryce blasted an RBI sacrifice fly, and then Gabe and Asher added two-out RBI singles for a pair of important insurance runs.
Score after four and a half innings: Mudcats 13, Thunder 7 

Saturday's Web Gems

• In the bottom of the first, Donovan made a nice snag of a hard line drive in left-center.
• With one out in the second, Charley made a smooth play on a difficult ground ball at third base and fired to first to easily retire the hitter.
• Bryce made yet another quality scoop at first base to preserve a force-out in the third.
• Gabe hustled after a foul popup near the Thunder dugout and made a sprawling catch with two men on and the Thunder threatening in the fourth.
• Two batters later, Ben grabbed a pop fly at catcher for the inning's second out.
• With the 'Cats still holding on to a one-run lead and the top of the order on deck, Gavin knocked down a hard two-out grounder at shortstop, stayed with it, and fired to first to end the game.

Saturday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Mudcats	2	2	4	1	4	0	13	16
Thunder	2	0	3	3	4	0	12	13

Bracketology: One game left

The Thunder and Bulls made up this week's rainout tonight, and with the Thunder victory, we now know a couple more seeds. Here's how the postseason picture looks right now:

1. Riverdogs
2. Mudcats
3. Lookouts/Bats (Lookouts clinch third with win over Bulls or Bats loss to Bees)
4. Bats/Lookouts
5. Thunder
6. Bees
7. Bulls/Scrappers (Bulls clinch 7th with win over Lookouts or Scrappers loss to Riverdogs)
8. Scrappers/Bulls

Bracketology: Mudcats postseason opener is set

The Riverdogs defeated the Bats last night. Based on tiebreakers, no matter what happens on Saturday, that means the Mudcats finish in second place for the regular season. So you can book the All Blacks' postseason opener for Thursday, May 17, at 5:30 p.m. The full bracket is available on the West Raleigh site.

The postseason picture currently looks like this. The most likely team to earn that seed is listed first:

1. Riverdogs
2. Mudcats
3. Lookouts/Bats
4. Bats/Lookouts
5. Thunder/Bees
6. Bees/Thunder
7. Bulls/Scrappers
8. Scrappers/Bulls

Bomb Squad

West Raleigh keeps a list of players hitting home runs known as the "Bomb Squad." The newest edition of the Bomb Squad includes our very own Gavin Gallaher, courtesy of his three-run blast last night against the Bees.

Reminder: someone, we're not saying who but he lives at the same house with someone on the Bomb Squad, may have said after the game that this week's practice is on Thursday. It is actually on Wednesday. The 'Cats will start at 6:30 in the cage at West Raleigh, and then move to the field from 7-8.

Game 13: Mudcats 12, Bees 3

Maybe it was Coach Sean's pregame freestyling. Maybe it was Coach Tom's birthday cupcakes. Maybe it was Coach Mike's "Mudcattitude" as he strode off the field after each defensive inning. Or maybe the Mudcat bats are just too good to stay quiet for two games in a row. Whatever the reason, the 'Cats rebounded from Saturday's tough loss with a 12-3 win over the Bees on Monday night at Nowell Field. 

"Now that," Coach Sean told the team, "was Mudcat baseball."

Even while missing Brenner and Christopher (who once again was one of the loudest voices in the dugout), the 'Cats got hits from eight different players and saw eight different players score a run in leading from wire-to-wire. Six of the 12 runs were scored with two outs, and the victory gave the All Blacks a season sweep of the Bees. Several alums were on hand for the win, including Jacob "Smiley" Mitchell and Coach Rob.

The win means the Mudcats can finish no lower than third in the regular season (the 'Cats have the tiebreaker over the Lookouts). That means they can't play on Tuesday, May 15, and the opening tournament game will be either Wednesday or Thursday.

The next Mudcat event is practice on Wednesday night at West Raleigh at 6:30. The next game is the regular season finale Saturday at 3 against the Thunder.

Monday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Donovan signaled that the Mudcat bats had reawakened by lining a hard single back up the middle and forcing Coach Sean to dodge out of the way in the first at-bat of the game. Gavin followed with a single, putting runners on the corners. Brady singled in Donovan, and then Charley's sacrifice fly plated Gavin.
Score after one inning: Mudcats 2, Bees 0


Third inning
As has happened so often this season, the rally started with two outs. With two down and nobody on, Channing ripped a single through the right side. Donovan's hard grounder was too hot to handle, putting runners on the corners. That set the stage for Gavin to blast the first Mudcat homer of the season, a three-run bomb almost to dead center field that sent his teammates streaming out of the dugout to greet him at home plate. Gavin's biggest concern after crushing the homer: "I wanted to make sure I touched all the bases." That was a legitimate concern considering that his fellow Mudcats barely let him get halfway down the third base line before mobbing him. Suggested station for Wednesday's practice: refining the home run trot.
Score after three innings: Mudcats 5, Bees 0


Fourth inning
The All Blacks put the game out of distance with four more runs, starting with Charley's leadoff single to left. Bryce blasted another single, and after a fielder's choice put runners at the corners, Asher singled to right to drive in Charley. Gabe scored on Colin's rope to left, and then Noah drove in two with a deep blast to left-center.
Score after four innings: Mudcats 9, Bees 1

Fifth inning
The 'Cats tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. Scoring began when Channing--on his way to a 2-for-2 day--smacked a single to left. Gavin followed with a double that very nearly cleared the fence, and then Brady and Charley each drove in a run to complete the scoring.


Monday's Web Gems

• Foreshadowing what was to come, Gavin made a highlight reel play to close the top of the first. With the bases loaded, the Bees slashed a hard grounder up the middle. From his second base position, Gavin ranged to his right, dove, knocked the ball down, and then flipped to Charley covering second to retire the side.
• In the second, Bryce made a clean pickup of a difficult short-hop throw at first base to save a run.
• One batter later, Asher made a good heads-up play at pitcher by fielding a ground ball, freezing the runner at third base, then spinning and throwing to retire the hitter at first base.
• In the fourth, Gavin smoothly fielded a sizzling grounder smashed by the Bees' best hitter, then flipped to Brady at second to record the out.
• With two on and two outs in the fourth, Bryce made an inning-ending catch of a fly ball in left field.

Monday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Bees	0	0	0	1	0	2	3	7
Mudcats	2	0	3	4	3	X	12	13

Game 12: Riverdogs 7, Mudcats 0

The Riverdogs wrapped up the Minor League regular season crown and earned a split of the season series with a 7-0 shutout of the Mudcats at Nowell Field.

The 'Dogs got all the runs they would need in the first inning on a three-run homer, and the Mudcat offense never got on track against a stingy Riverdogs defense. The All Blacks never advanced a runner to third, and moved just one runner (Channing in the fourth) to second.

The loss did clear up one part of the tournament picture for the Mudcats: they cannot play on Monday, May 14, according to the most recent end of season bracket.The Bats defeated the Lookouts earlier on Saturday, so the 'Cats could still open tournament play on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Looking ahead, the 'Cats can clinch second place (and an opening game on Thursday, May 17) by winning out. The next Mudcat event is practice on Sunday at 1:00 at Method Road, with the next game on Monday night at 5:30 against the Bees.

Saturday's Web Gems

• Gavin started yet another Mudcat double play in the second, grabbing a line drive with one out in the first, then throwing to Bryce to double off the runner and end the inning.
• To end the third, Gavin made a solid play ranging to his right up the middle from shortstop, knocked down the ball and stayed with it to through to first to finish the inning.

Saturday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Mudcats	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
Riverdogs	3	0	0	4	0	X	7	11

Bracketology: May 4

It's time for one of the favorite activities of the Mudcat blog: trying to figure out when we might play in the postseason. Earlier today, Coach Sean emailed out a postseason bracket, which can also be found on the West Raleigh website.

After looking at the Minor League standings, the 'Cats could finish anywhere from first to fourth. That means we could play on...yep...any of the first four days. One thing we do know, though, is that if the Riverdogs happen to defeat the All Blacks tomorrow, that would seal the regular season championship for the 'Dogs. For your scheduling purposes, that means the most important consequence would be that the Mudcats could not play on Monday, May 14. However, a Mudcats win would give the 'Cats the tiebreaker over the Riverdogs and would leave the regular season title still undecided.

For your reference, the remaining games for the top four teams in the standings are:

Riverdogs: Mudcats, at Bats, Scrappers
Mudcats: at Riverdogs, Bees, at Thunder
Lookouts: Bats, at Scrappers, Bulls
Bats: at Lookouts, Riverdogs, at Bees

We'll update this after Saturday to let you know if the weekend's results have clarified any possibilities.

Practice: Missing Coach Sean

The Mudcats returned to the practice field Thursday night, but they were Coach Sean-less, as he tries to juggle the approximately 14 teams for which he is responsible (you think it is tough keeping up with one team, try doing it for more than one). The combined efforts of Coach Tom, Coach Mike, Coach Andy and Coach Matt were almost enough to equal one of Coach Sean. Fortunately, Coach Tom's guns made up the difference.

Practice began in the cage, then moved to the field after the conclusion of the Bees-Thunder game. Third and first basemen worked on throws across the diamond, while the middle infielders focused on making a play on a grounder and making the quick flip to second base. In the outfield, the Mudcats continued to stress keeping the ball in front. With a game against the Riverdogs looming, outfielders are asked to remember to play deeper than normal so that they can make the play moving in rather than having the ball sail over their heads.

The final half-hour was devoted to game situations, as Coach Andy sprayed line drives all over the field. Practice concluded with a relay race that included some questionable strategy by a team that shall remain nameless (but one of the players on that team had a name that rhymes with Smasher), but their sneaky tactics were fruitless, and they still took the loss.

The 'Cats have a game Saturday at 1 on what is supposed to be a warm day, so arrive at noon for pregame and drink plenty of water (oh, and the kids should drink plenty of water, too).

Game 11: Mudcats 11, Bats 11

No, my 11 key isn't broken. It's just that in the eleventh game of the season, the Mudcats and Bats played to an 11-11 tie on Nowell Field. The tie was the first in recent memory for the 'Cats, as the time limit prevented an extra inning--when both sides would have had some of their toughest hitters due up--from being played.

The tie was the second straight game the Mudcats played without the services of Christopher, who despite a wrist injury likely to keep him out for the remainder of the season made the effort to be in the 'Cats dugout during the game. Everyone lined up after the game to sign his Mudcat-red cast and is hopeful that Chris, who is well-known for having one of the best attitudes on the team, will continue to be an important part of the squad whenever his busy schedule allows him to make it to the field.

Tuesday marked the third time in the last four games that the All Blacks have had to battle back from a first-inning deficit. This time, it was a 3-2 Bats lead after the first. But the 'Cats turned in a big five-run third to retake the lead, then flashed some quality defense in the fifth to hold an 11-8 advantage going into the final inning.

That's when the Bats mounted a three-run rally to tie the score and ultimately force the tie. Coach Sean, who had a coaching doubleheader on Tuesday night, told the 'Cats they will reemphasize defense at Thursday night's practice (West Raleigh at 6:30). No stickers were handed out for a tie, but Coach Tom mentioned there could be a potential double-sticker opportunity at Saturday's game.

By the way, a special shout-out to former Mudcat Anthony Alberghina, who checked in on the blog recently. The 'Cats definitely miss him and wish he and his family well in Alabama, where Nick Saban is reportedly already keeping an eye on Anthony.

Tuesday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
To begin his 3-for-3 day and lead off the first inning, Donovan smacked a single. With two down, he moved to second on Charley's single, and then back-to-back singles from Bryce and Gabe plated a pair of two-out runs.
Score after one inning: Bats 3, Mudcats 2


Third inning
The 'Cats' biggest inning of the game started with Will's single. Channing reached on a fielder's choice, then moved to second on Donovan's single. With two on, Gavin ripped an RBI single the other way. Brady, who pummeled the ball all night, crushed a double that scored Donovan, and then Charley cleared the bases with a two-RBI single. After some aggressive baserunning allowed him to take second on a throw in the Bat infield, Charley scored on Bryce's hard shot to center.
Score after three innings: Mudcats 7, Bats 6


Fifth inning
Donovan once again led off with a single, then ran hard to advance to third on Brady's single. Charley drove in his third run of the day with a single to left-center, and Bryce and Gabe followed with run-scoring hits to complete the scoring.
Score after five innings: Mudcats 11, Bats 8

Tuesday's Web Gems

• In the first inning, Bryce ranged over almost into the Mudcat dugout to haul in a foul pop fly for the second out of the frame.
• Channing recorded his first career outfield assist by cleanly fielding a hard-hit ball to right, coming up aggressively, and hosing the runner at first base leading off the second.
• Bryce probably saved a run by picking a throw out of the dirt at first base and stayed on the bag long enough to record the force.
• Asher made a good hustle play by grabbing a pop foul at catcher to finish the fifth.
• With the potential go-ahead run at third base with two down in the sixth, Gabe made a steely play at third, fielding a grounder and making a strong throw to first to retire the side.

Tuesday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Bats	3	0	3	0	2	3	11	14
Mudcats	2	0	5	0	4	0	11	17

Practice: Back at WR

Fresh off Saturday's win over the Scrappers, the Mudcats returned to West Raleigh on Sunday afternoon and had one of their best practices since the preseason. Under a sunny, warm sky that was a stark contrast to Saturday's chilly temperatures, the 'Cats spent the first 30 minutes in the batting cage.

Once they hit the field, the All Blacks split into infield and outfield groups. In the outfield, the focus was on calling the ball clearly when it was hit between two fielders. Outfielders also worked on picking the ball up barehanded when it goes off the fence and is at a standstill, so that they can turn and fire back into the infield immediately. Even a second's hesitation could mean an extra base for the opponent.

After working in groups, Coach Sean put the team through some game situations. Highlights included several close plays at the plate, a couple of throwing errors by Coach Andy, and Will clearing the bases with a walk-off home run way over the fence to conclude the situational drills. Practice finished with a relay race that ended--incredibly--in a dead heat, after Gavin turned in a great effort keeping up with Donovan on the final leg.

A host of Mudcat alums were around for the practice,  including Christopher, Drew, Coach Andrew, and Zach, who was overheard telling one of his Hooks teammates, "I hit one off that scoreboard against the Riverdogs." In reality, I think that ball went over the scoreboard, but it was nice of King Za to downplay it.

The 'Cats return to the field on Tuesday at 5:30 with a game against the Bats, with pregame beginning at 4:30. Keep your fingers crossed for tomorrow's doctor appointment for Christopher, whose status is uncertain due to an unfortunate encounter with a trampoline.

Game 10: Mudcats 18, Scrappers 3

In the most complete offensive explosion of the season, the Mudcats pounded out a season-high 21 hits--including at least one hit from every player in attendance--on the way to an 18-3 victory over the Scrappers. All the sprinting around the bases was very beneficial in running off some of the pregame carb load created by the traditional Mudcats 9 a.m. Buffet, which has grown so famous that even alumni coaches and parents from other fields (Hi, Coach Rob!) stopped by to eat doughnuts and Chick-fil-A say hello at chilly Nowell Field.

The slightly tweaked lineup, which featured Donovan--who during pregame proved it is in fact possible to eat an entire Chicken Mini in one bite while also holding a pair of doughnuts as backup--in the leadoff spot, began producing immediately. The 'Cats scored seven runs in the first inning, marking their biggest first inning of the season and tying for the second-biggest inning overall of the year. Almost the entire order came to the plate in the first, and by the time the morning was over, 11 different Mudcats had scored at least one run. The 18 total runs were more than the All Blacks had scored in the previous three games combined, and thirteen of the 18 runs came with two outs.

Just as impressively, the 'Cats didn't relax after the big early output, and stayed focused enough to outscore the Scrappers in every inning except the third. "The Mudcats," Coach Sean told the team as they gathered after the game, "are back!" Everyone received a sticker for the victory, while Brenner (defense), Donovan (defense) and Will (offense) received bonus stickers.

Assuming no rain for the rest of the day, the 'Cats have practice Sunday at 1:30 at West Raleigh.

Saturday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
The Mudcats' two-out offense returned, as the 'Cats plated seven runs with two outs. First, Gavin and Brady scored on Bryce's hard-hit ball to the right side. Gabe's hard shot to shortstop put runners on the corners, and Asher drove in Bryce with an infield single. Ben's infield single loaded the bases for the biggest play of the inning--a bases-clearing opposite-field triple from Colin. Brenner completed the scoring with a single to left, and the All Blacks had a big early lead.
Score after one-half inning: Mudcats 7, Scrappers 0


Second inning
In his first game in the leadoff position, Donovan ripped a one-out double, then came around to score on Gavin's single. Charley's two-out double scored Gavin.
Score after one a half innings: Mudcats 9, Scrappers 0


Fourth inning
Noah got the inning started with a one-out double to right-center. Will followed with a hard shot back up the middle that scored Noah, then moved to second on Donovan's twisting liner to left. Gavin picked up his second RBI of the day with a single to center. Charley (1 RBI) and Bryce (2 RBI) picked up important two-out RBIs, giving the Mudcats five runs in the inning and invoking the 10-run rule.
Score after three and a half innings: Mudcats 14, Scrappers 1


Fifth inning
Gabe singled and moved to third on Asher's double. Ben scored Gabe with an RBI fielder's choice, and Colin collected his fourth RBI of the day with a double to left-center that scored Asher.
Score after four and a half innings: Mudcats 16, Scrappers 1


Sixth inning
A two-out single from Gabe scored a pair, giving Gabe three hits and scoring the 17th and 18th runs of the day for the Mudcats.
Score after five and a half innings: Mudcats 18, Scrappers 2

Saturday's Web Gems

• On the very first hitter of the game, Brenner picked a line drive out of the air in right-center to set the defensive tone for the game.
• Not content with just one highlight-reel play, the Mudcat outfield turned in two of them in the first inning. Donovan took a couple steps in from center field to make the play more exciting and create some drama, then raced back and made a leaping one-handed catch to end the first.
• The Mudcat infield was tested all day, and responded with just two errors. Only four Scrappers came to the plate in four of the six innings, as the 'Cats infield made 13 of the game's 18 outs. Gavin, Charley, Gabe, Bryce, Asher, Brady, Colin and Brenner all had a hand in at least one out in the infield.

Saturday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Mudcats	7	2	0	5	2	2	18	21
Scrappers	0	0	1	0	1	1	3	8

Game 9: Bulls 12, Mudcats 1

In baseball, as a grizzled veteran once said (I think his name was "Coach Mike"), sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes it rains. And, well, sometimes it rains and you lose. For the second straight game, the field required significant prep time to get ready after some sporadic mid-day rains. After yeoman's work from many coaches, plus Ben's dad, Kevin--who was so impressive Gabe might even hire him to do some work for Proctor & Pops Field Maintenance--the field was eventually playable. But that turned out to be the highlight of the evening, as the Mudcats dropped their second straight decision, 12-1. The loss gave the Mudcats and Bulls a split of the season series.

The Bulls led from wire-to-wire in snapping their four-game losing streak, building off a two-run homer in the top of the first and never looking back. Even the appearance of a mysterious well-dressed man--who for some reason insisted on being called "Coach Tom"--in the Mudcats dugout in the late innings couldn't reverse the fortunes. The stingy Bulls defense never cracked the door, and the 'Cats never sent more than five hitters to the plate in any one inning, making it very difficult to get a rally going. The offensive highlight belonged to Will, who recorded his first 2-for-2 West Raleigh day.

The original schedule had the Mudcats listed for practice on Friday night. That practice has been canceled due to a non-Mudcats game being rescheduled at the same time. The next All Blacks event is Saturday morning bright and early at 9 a.m. The traditional early morning Mudcat Buffet will be served, so come hungry for pregame at 8 a.m.

Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Gavin reached on a twisting grounder, moved all the way to third on Charley's hard hit ball to the right side, and then scored on Bryce's RBI fielder's choice.
Score after one inning: Bulls 2, Mudcats 1

Thursday's Web Gems

• In the first inning, Charley ranged to his right and made a backhanded catch on the outfield grass of a popup that looked ticketed for the outfield.
• On the very next hitter, Donovan was heads up backing up center field, and fired the ball back into second base on a double. That's where Gavin caught the relay and turned immediately to throw to Gabe, where the hitter was trying to stretch the play into a triple.
• Brenner closed out the inning by snatching a line drive out of the air in right-center.
• On a routine grounder that turned into a very tough play because of a bad hop leading off the fourth, Brady quickly adjusted to the unexpected hop and made the throw to first to retire the leadoff man.
• Two hitters later, Brady saved a base by backing up second on an errant throw.
• Still in the fourth, Asher picked up his second outfield assist of the season, throwing to Brady at second to record the force and cutting off what looked like a big Bulls inning.
• Charley went deep in the hole between third and shortstop to snag what looked like a grounder through the hole, then went to second to get a force in the sixth.

Thursday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Bulls	2	0	3	2	0	5	12	14
Mudcats	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	8

How not to argue with the umpire

At West Raleigh, of course, there is never any disagreement with any umpiring decisions. Or, if there is, at least it doesn't go to quite these levels.

Game 8: Lookouts 9, Mudcats 4

At Thursday night's practice, Coach Sean told the Mudcats that defense would be very important over the second half of the season. Saturday's game proved him right, but probably not in the way he wanted. The 'Cats' defense suffered some rare breakdowns, the Lookouts made some terrific plays in sending the All Blacks to their first loss of the season, 9-4. The victory gave the Lookouts a split of the season series.

After West Raleigh was doused with a cloudburst just before the scheduled 3 p.m. game time, coaches and parents spent at least a half-hour getting the field in playable condition. The 'Cats took advantage, tallying a quick first-inning run after the eventual 3:30 start, but the big Lookout bats (including former Mudcat Ben Penchuk enjoying a 3-for-3 day and nearly hitting his second home run of the week) and some uncharacteristic defensive issues kept the Mudcats playing from behind for most of the afternoon.

By the time the offense--which managed a season-low eight base hits--awoke in the late innings (and Coach Sean remembered that it was unlucky for him to carry his keys in his pocket), the Lookouts had already taken a commanding lead. Time eventually ran out when the clouds opened yet again with Will at the plate in the sixth. Rain washed away the final inning, making the unsatisfying final 9-4.

The Mudcats have practice on Tuesday at Method Road before playing the Bulls on Thursday.

Saturday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Brady tripled down the right field line, then scored on Charley's hard grounder to the right side to give the Mudcats an early lead.
Score after one-half inning: Mudcats 1, Lookouts 0

Fifth inning
After the Mudcat bats went silent during the middle part of the game, they woke up for the fifth. Gabe ripped a one-out single back up the middle, and then a rare misplay by the Lookout infield on Donovan's tough grounder allowed Gabe to score and Donovan to sprint all the way around to third. Asher slapped a single to left, scoring Donovan. After a fielder's choice, Noah blasted a single to right-center that scored Asher from second.
Score after four and a half innings: Lookouts 9, Mudcats 4

Saturday's Web Gems

• In the third inning, Gavin knocked down a line drive at shortstop, stayed with the play, and threw out the Lookouts' leadoff hitter from his knees to get the first out of the inning.
• Brenner took a couple steps in to catch a bullet of a line drive in center leading off the fifth.
• Later in that same inning, Gabe fielded a deceptively difficult grounder at third and made a very strong throw to first to end the inning.

Saturday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Mudcats	1	0	0	0	3	0	4	8
Lookouts	4	0	5	0	0	X	9	11

Practice: Halfway there

After an incredibly long two-day hiatus from the West Raleigh fields, the Mudcats regrouped Thursday night for a short 90-minute session. The first 30 minutes were spent in the cage.

After moving to the field for the final hour--only after former Mudcat Ben Penchuk crushed an over-the-fence home run during the Lookouts-Bulls game--Coach Sean had one major focus: "We have to lock down our defense," he told the 'Cats. That meant a full 60 minutes of defensive work, beginning with outfielders hitting the cutoff man while infielders lined up the cutoff man and received and made quick throws. In the Minor League, unfamiliar base runners at first can sometimes mean there are force outs at second to be had on hard singles up the middle, and Coach Sean wants the outfielders to play aggressively and make those plays. The All Blacks have converted two force outs from the outfield through the first seven games.

The final 10 minutes were devoted to situations, with everyone on the play--infielders, outfielders and even the baserunners--required to think about what they were going to do before the ball was hit. Coach Sean managed to conserve his power and only hit one ball over the fence.

Even with all the defensive work, the best catch of the day was clearly by Channing. While on vacation with his family at the beach, he used his bare hands to catch what appeared to be a hammerhead shark. A photo of his wildlife taming was shown to the team, which was suitably impressed.

The next Mudcat event is a Saturday game at 3 p.m., which means pregame starts at 2 p.m. The 'Cats have now played every team in the league once, which means Saturday--against a tough Lookouts squad that was missing several players when the two teams first met--begins the second half of the season.

Game 7: Mudcats 13, Thunder 12

The last game of a long stretch of back-to-back games is usually the toughest. Such was the case Monday night at Nowell Field, which led to one of the most entertaining games of the season, as the Mudcats battled back from down 12-7 in the bottom of the sixth to claim a walk-off 13-12 victory.

The game marked the All Blacks' third game in three days and fourth game in five days. Still, even on a warm day, the Mudcats started fast, getting a couple highlight reel defensive plays early and following that with a 5-run first inning. But the Thunder, led partly by a 3-for-3 day for former Mudcat Tyler Key, fought back. When the 'Cat bats slumbered a little in the middle innings, the Thunder took advantage and eventually seized a 12-7 lead in the top of the sixth.

When the team ran in from a somewhat demoralizing top of the sixth, Coach Sean met them before they ever made it to the dugout. As the home team, the Mudcats had one final chance to tie or win the game. "Can you imagine how much fun it's going to be to score six runs and win this game?" Coach Sean asked them.

As it turns out, the answer is: very, very fun. It was a All-Blackout in the sixth, as the 'Cats scored six quick runs before they even made two outs. The day's hero was Brenner, who drove in the game-winning run and prompted a quick but hearty celebration on the field. It is believed to be his first career walk-off hit.

Postgame stickers were awarded to all Mudcats for the victory, and to Brenner (game-winning hit), Donovan (sweet catch in left field) and Asher (game-tying hit and some serious hustle on the game-winning run) for key plays.

On the way home, Asher was describing the game on the phone to a friend whose son plays for Carolina's baseball team. After describing the tense final inning (well, I wasn't tense, but Coach Mike was a little nervous) and the subsequent celebration, Asher put it this way: "I think now I know what it feels like to go to Omaha." Not through talent but through sheer good fortune, I have been in some dugouts after a team advances to Omaha. It's amazing in that moment how very similar it does feel...although the Tar Heels have never played well enough to earn a practice being canceled. Tuesday's scheduled practice is off, and the Mudcats will reassemble on Thursday at 6:30 at West Raleigh.

Monday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
The Mudcats started hot, with Gavin and Brady reaching on back-to-back liners. That set up Charley, who came through with a two-RBI double.After a fielder's choice moved Charley to third, he scored on Colin's grounder to make it 3-0. Donovan drove in a pair with a rip to left-center to finish the scoring
Score after one inning: Mudcats 5, Thunder 0

Second inning
The 'Cats did it again with two outs, as Ben--enjoying a 2-for-2 day--drove home Christopher.
Score after two innings: Mudcats 6, Thunder 4

Third inning
With Channing on third, Gavin drilled a line drive to deep center for a sacrifice fly.
Score after three innings: Mudcats 7, Thunder 4

Sixth inning
In one of the all-time great West Raleigh comebacks, Brady started the inning with a hard-hit single to right. Charley followed with another single to put two runners on base. With one out, Gabe sliced a single to left, scoring Brady and cutting the deficit to 12-8. Colin's grounder plated Charley, and the once-somber Mudcat dugout was starting to come to life. Donovan singled, and when the Thunder experienced some infield issues, used his blazing speed to advance all the way to third base, with Gabe and Colin scampering home to cut the Thunder lead to just 12-11. That brought Asher to the plate, at which point I blacked out. I have been told he singled up the middle, scoring Donovan. Noah singled to left, moving Asher to third, which brought up Brenner. Without any hesitation, Double B came up huge in the clutch, smashing a ball that was too hot to handle, and Asher sprinted home with a perfectly legal feet-first slide to plate the walk-off game-winning run.
Walk-off score after six innings: Mudcats 13, Thunder 12

Monday's Web Gems

• The 'Cats retired the Thunder 1-2-3 against the formidable top of the Thunder order, helped along by Asher starting the team's fourth double play in seven games by spearing a line drive at pitcher, then throwing to Bryce at first base, who made a nice stretch to ensure the runner was doubled off.
• On the very next hitter, Donovan soared to make a leaping, one-handed catch in left field to end the inning and lead all evening highlight shows.
• The middle of the Mudcat infield came through in the second, as with a runner on first, the Thunder hitter smacked a single to center. Charley alertly ran to cover second, where he received the throw from Asher to record the forceout.
• Bryce made a solid scoop of a low throw in the third inning to retire the Thunder's leadoff hitter.
• Gavin and Gabe helped limit what could have been an even bigger Thunder fourth. With runners on first and second, Gavin stopped a grounder to shortstop and fired to Gabe at third to force the lead runner.
• Gabe made what turned out to be a very big play leading off the sixth, as he stayed in front of a sizzling grounder and threw all the way across the diamond to record the first out of the final inning.

Monday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Thunder	0	4	0	3	0	5	12	13
Mudcats	5	1	1	0	0	6	13	12

Game 6: Mudcats 19, Scrappers 4

In an offensive explosion the likes of which has never been seen before in recorded Mudcats history--well, at least Mudcats history that has been recorded by this particular writer on this particular blog, which dates back to the fall 2010 season--the 'Cats pounded out 19 runs and 19 hits (also known in technical baseball lingo as "a ton") on the way to a 19-4 victory over the Scrappers. The All Blacks scored in every offensive inning, had every player in the lineup reach base at least once, got hits from 11 different players and had 11 different players score a run.

In other words, they played pretty well.

They also showed the total lack of knowledge possessed by Coach Adam, who had--this is a true story--emailed Coach Sean on Saturday night pointing out that the 'Cats had just nine extra base hits through the first five games this season. The Mudcats proceeded to go out and knock nine doubles in one game against the Scrappers, doubling their season total in just five innings.

In reality, the All Blacks actually got two wins on Sunday in front of a crowd that included a host of Mudcat alums, including Smiley Mitchell, Drew DiMeo, Chris Gruskin, Coach Andrew, Coach Jim and GM Jenn. After taking a 13-3 lead after two innings, there was some chatter in the dugout about the impending victory. Hearing that, the coaches challenged the players to win the final four innings, and told them the score was resetting to 0-0. The 'Cats proceeded to go out and win again, with a 6-1 margin from the third through the sixth.

The win was even more impressive because of an injury list that makes the 2012 Carolina basketball team look like the picture of health. The very serious list of injuries included Gavin (bug bite), Noah (wrist), Gabe (finger...or something?), Coach Tom (rotator cuff from waving players around third), Charley (leg), Donovan (feet on fire after racing around the bases), and Coach Sean (major leg injury after a throw from Brady). In a related story, Brady will be arriving to Monday's game two hours early to run laps. It is possible that after two hours of running, Coach Sean might be able to catch him.

Coach Sean, whose memory is impeccable, once again remembered the stickers. Everyone received a sticker for the victory, and Brenner, Bryce and Colin earned an extra sticker for solid offensive and defensive play.

Naturally, the Mudcats have another game tomorrow to close out the grueling three games in three days/four games in five days stretch. All players (other than Brady) should arrive for pregame at 4:30, with the game beginning at 5:30. Coach Adam will be sending an email to Coach Sean shortly pointing out that the team needs to hit more home runs.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Coach Sean is too nice to talk about this (unless it is the bottom of the fifth inning and he is supposed to be pitching), but Gavin's older brother, Riley, caught a 39-yard touchdown pass in South Carolina's spring football game on Saturday. He even earned some praise from Steve Spurrier. Congratulations to Gavin for coaching up his older brother and to Coach Sean for getting out of the way and letting Gavin do the teaching. Video of the play is available online, with the very cool bonus (scroll ahead to the 1:30 mark) of getting to hear "Riley Gallaher with the touchdown" over the PA.

Sunday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Foreshadowing a double-happy day, Gavin led off with a double. Brady and Charley followed with back-to-back singles. With one down and Charley on second and Gabe on first, Colin dropped a double the other way to score a pair. Just a few pitches later, Donovan followed with still another double, scoring Colin. Donovan moved to third on Asher's single, then scored on Brenner's double--the fourth extra-base hit of the inning.
Score after one inning: Mudcats 6, Scrappers 3

Second inning
In an inning that was only shut down by the 10-run rule, the Mudcats sent eight hitters to the plate and saw seven of them score. Ben, Channing and Will got the inning started with all three reaching base, and then Gavin and Brady each reached. Charley joined the doubles club with a two-RBI rip to left, and then Bryce doubled to center to drive home Charley. Yes, if you're keeping score at home, that's six doubles in the first two innings. Gabe completed the scoring with an RBI single, giving the Mudcats a 13-3 lead and forcing the teams to change sides due to the rules.
Score after two innings: Mudcats 13, Scrappers 3

Third inning
Picking up right where they left off in the previous inning, Colin, Donovan and Asher loaded the bases immediately with no outs. Noah picked up an RBI fielder's choice, and Asher motored home on Chris's hard grounder to short.
Score after three innings: Mudcats 15, Scrappers 3

Fourth inning
Will drove the ball back up the middle, then moved to third on Gavin's double. Brady scored both 'Cats with yet another double, then came home on Bryce's RBI grounder.
Score after four innings: Mudcats 18, Scrappers 3

Fifth inning
Donovan hit--you guessed it--a one-out double, moved to third on Asher's single, and scored on Noah's grounder.
Score after five innings: Mudcats 19, Scrappers 4


Sunday's Web Gems

• To end the third inning, Gavin stopped a hard ground ball at shortstop and threw to first to complete the out.
• In the fourth, Bryce made a solid pickup at shortstop, then threw to first, where Charley--playing on an injured leg--still made a stellar stretch to nab the runner at first by a quarter-step.
• Gavin made a tough play look easy at second base leading off the fifth inning, throwing on the run to get the out.
• The series of Mudcat pitchers--including Ben, Asher, Colin, Brenner and Brady--combined to get six of the game's 18 outs from the pitcher position.

Sunday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Scrappers	3	0	0	0	1	0	4	2
Mudcats	6	7	2	3	1	X	19	19

Game 5: Mudcats 8, Bees 4

Double plays are relatively rare in West Raleigh. They really are. That probably seems hard to believe, considering that the Mudcats seem to convert them with regularity. It happened again on Saturday, as a timely defensive twin killing helped preserve an 8-4 victory over the Bees bright and early at Nowell Field.

With team pictures scheduled for 8:30 a.m., there were lots of bleary eyes and blank stares as the Mudcats gathered around the photo area. But enough about the parents. The kids, as usual, were ready to play at any time or place, and they were soon fortified with the traditional Mudcat Saturday morning buffet of doughnuts, Chick-fil-A and fruit. Add a chocolate fountain next time, and we’ll have everything they have at Golden Corral.

The sugar rush showed, as the ‘Cats put up a quick first-inning run, but left the inning feeling like they potentially could have had even more, as the Bees infield made several solid plays. That proved to be the theme of the day: even on a day when the Mudcats collected 10 hits, there were at least half a dozen hard-hit balls that very easily could have dropped.

With runs likely to be in short supply, the All Blacks responded with stingy defense. They turned in two 1-2-3 innings, and just four batters came to the plate in two other innings. One of those frames was the fifth, when the Bees put the potential tying runs in scoring position with one out, but saw their rally snuffed out by Gavin’s unassisted double play at second base. Incredibly, the play marked the Mudcats’ third double play in just five games.

After solid field maintenance done by Proctor and Pops Landscaping, Coach Sean handed out a pair of stickers to everyone, and capped the day with an unexpected surprise: old school stickers from the Mudcat archives for solid plays on both offense and defense.

The next ‘Cats game is an ESPN prime time affair on Sunday night at 5 p.m. against the Scrappers. Pregame begins at 4 p.m.


Saturday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Gavin led off with a single and moved to third on Brady’s double. After a fielder’s choice, Bryce drove in the first run of the day with a hard grounder to short.
Score after one-half inning: Mudcats 1, Bees 0

Second inning
A huge inning from the second half of the Mudcat order. It began with Donovan reaching second as the leadoff man, then moving to third on a fielder’s choice. Good baserunning by Donovan prevented a double play on Noah’s line shot to third, and gave the ‘Cats two outs with no runs in. But they were just getting started. Brenner drove in Donovan, then Chris and Ben loaded the bases with back-to-back hits. Good hustle from Ben between first and second prevented an inning-ending force out and scored Brenner. Channing pulled a ball straight down the third base line, scoring Chris and Ben to complete the four-run rally with two outs.
Score after one and a half innings: Mudcats 5, Bees 0

Third inning
Charley roped an opposite-field single with one out. With two on and one out, Gabe laced a single between third and short to score Charley.
Score after two and a half innings: Mudcats 6, Bees 2

Sixth inning
After a couple quiet innings, the Mudcat offense woke back up in the sixth. Brady led off with a bullet to center, then scored on Charley’s single. Bryce capped his two-RBI day with a run-scoring grounder to short.
Score after five and a half innings: Mudcats 8, Bees 4


Saturday's Web Gems

• Gavin and Gabe each bounced back from misfortune earlier in an inning to make key plays. In the second, the Bees had a runner in scoring position when Gavin hauled in a pop fly to end the inning. And in the sixth, facing the top of the Bee order, Gabe made a solid play on a hard-hit grounder and fired to second to record the force.
• One of the game’s key moments came in the fifth, with the All Blacks nursing a slim two-run lead. After the Bees hit back-to-back singles to put two on with no outs, Asher and Bryce teamed up to record an out on a grounder back up the middle. Then, with one out and the tying runs in scoring position, Gavin snagged a line drive and stepped on second to double off the runner, ending the threat, preserving the lead and giving the Mudcats an injection of momentum going into the sixth.

Saturday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Mudcats	1	4	1	0	0	2	8	10
Bees	0	2	0	2	0	0	4	6

Game 4: Mudcats 9, Riverdogs 7

In general, the Mudcats discourage visitors in the dugout during the game. That rule was lifted before Thursday night's game against the Riverdogs, as the pregame speech was delivered by some goofy guy wearing a straw hat and googly glasses. This is one occasion where words simply aren't sufficient--you'll need to check the pictures (and don't forget volume 2 of the pictures as well). Suffice it to say that the speech seemed to get the 'Cats fired up, and they responded in what might have been one of the better games played in the Minor League this year, with tremendous plays on both sides. In a battle of the unbeatens, the All Blacks prevailed, 9-7, plating nine runs in the first three innings and then relying on solid defense over the final three innings to seal the win.

That defense, which included multiple highlight reel plays, helped limit a formidable Riverdogs offense that came into the game averaging 15 runs per game. The performance was so impressive that the Dogs' Coach Lance even stopped by the Mudcat huddle to offer his congratulations.

The win was actually a departure from the All Blacks' typical outing, as it was just the second time this season that they held the lead from wire-to-wire. Just to make sure they still provided some drama, however, the 'Cats had to survive a very stressful sixth inning. Someone, and I am not sure who, may have actually scratched a hole in his scorebook on one particular play in the sixth. But it all worked out, with Gavin scooping up a blistering line shot and tossing to Bryce for the final out of the game.

One of the only errors of the game came from the Coach Sean/Coach Mike combination, as they teamed up to forget the stickers on a day when dozens of stickers probably would've been given out. That led Coach Sean to make a generous proposal: if the 'Cats play well on Saturday against the Bees--and the coaches don't break the camera during team pictures--Tuesday's practice will be scrapped.

Before the Mudcats can go through their three-games-in-three-days set coming up this weekend, they have practice Friday night at West Raleigh at 5 p.m. Make sure to check your ESPN Classic listings for possible replays of tonight's game.

Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Gavin started the game with a single to right, then advanced all the way to third on Brady's line drive to right-center. With one out, Bryce smacked the ball back to the pitcher, and aggressive Mudcats baserunning scored two runs when the Riverdogs had trouble in the infield. Gabe connected for the first of his 3-RBI day with a single to left that scored Bryce to complete the three-run inning.
Score after one inning: Mudcats 3, Riverdogs 0

Second inning
Once again, the Mudcats got the leadoff man on. This time it was Noah, and he moved to second on Brenner's fielder's choice. Chris connected for an RBI opposite field single, and then Ben scored Christopher with a single right back up the middle.
Score after two innings: Mudcats 5, Riverdogs 2


Third inning
One of the biggest Mudcats innings of the season started with the leadoff man--Channing--reaching first for the third straight inning. That set up the top of the order, and Gavin and Brady knocked back-to-back singles. With the bases loaded, Charley's RBI fielder's choice scored the first run of the frame. Bryce's single loaded the bases again, and Gabe came through again, this time driving in a pair with a single to left. Donovan completed the scoring with a perfectly placed Texas leaguer to left, scoring Bryce and giving the All Blacks a four-run inning.
Score after three innings: Mudcats 9, Riverdogs 2


Thursday's Web Gems

• With a man on in the first inning, Bryce made a solid play backpedaling at first base and hauling in a looping liner.
• Charley went deep in the hole between short and third in the second inning, made a backhanded stop, and tossed a solid throw to Gavin covering second to short-circuit a Riverdogs rally.
• With a man on in the third inning against the top of the Riverdogs order, Chris raced into left-center to spear a line drive, then alertly fired to Brady covering second base for the double play. The inning-ending double play took on even more importance in the next inning, when the next Riverdog hit a solo homer--that would have been a 3-run homer without Chris's great play.
• I think that's about it for the standout defensive pla...ow! What's that sharp stick in my ribs? Oh, that's my wife. I almost forgot. Asher made a nice diving catch of a pop foul in the final inning with two men on as the Riverdogs were threatening with the meat of their order.

Thursday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Riverdogs	0	2	0	4	0	1	7	10
Mudcats	3	2	4	0	0	X	9	11

Practice: All Blacks (and blue)

I have no idea how many games the Mudcats are going to win this year. But I do know for sure they are going to look like the toughest, meanest team anyone has ever seen in West Raleigh. The 'Cats brought their black eye total to two on Wednesday night when Coach Tom decided to hit Colin in the eye with a line drive.

Colin still made a catch on a pop fly later in the same practice, proving that you might need two hands to catch a fly ball, but you only need one eye.

Game 3: Mudcats 15, Bats 7

The comeback 'Cats did it again, as an early 3-0 deficit proved to be no problem, and a sixth-inning two-out explosion sent the All Blacks to a 15-7 win over the Bats.

The win was especially impressive because the Mudcats were playing without Coach Sean and Gavin. Coach Sean made up for his absence by sending copious texts to the scorekeeper, with the result that the scorebook may or may not resemble ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Coach Sean's absence put Coach Tom on the mound, who was virtually unhittable until Donovan finally put a little fear into him by smoking a line drive off the crafty righty in the third. Coach Tom, alertly realizing the ball would only be a single, threw up his glove and knocked it down. That meant the ball was ruled foul, giving Donovan another chance--and he promptly smacked a double to left. Coach Tom's heads-up self-defense actually gave the 'Cats an extra base.

Donovan's great at-bat changed the tone of the game. After being shut out through three innings, the offense awoke in the fourth, and after collecting just four hits in the first three innings, the Mudcats exploded for 14 hits over the final three innings. Of the team's 31 runs this season, 17 have been scored with two outs, including 10 of Tuesday night's 15 runs.

The All Blacks paired that potent offense with solid defense, as they held a big-hitting Bats team that was averaging 13 runs per game to a scant seven runs, including just four runs over the final five innings. It was the second time this season that the 'Cats have come back from at least a two-run deficit midway through the game.

The only downside to the win was that it meant the very stingy Coach Mike was in charge of the stickers. The Mudcats celebrated the win with a slightly off-key rendition of Happy Birthday for Chris, plus cupcakes and a celebratory speakerphone call to Coach Sean, who unwisely appears not to screen Coach Mike's calls. The win takes the season into the Easter break, which is almost certain to be the last seven-day stretch without a practice or game that you'll see until June. The 'Cats don't hit the field again until practice next Wednesday at 5:30.

Tuesday's Mudcat scoring plays
Fourth inning
Coach Tom shut out the All Blacks the first time through the order, but the bats (not the Bats) finally woke up in the fourth. Getting his second look at the wicked slider of Coach Tom, Brady sliced it into right-center for a leadoff double. Charley singled to left, putting runners on the corners, and with one out, Gabe ripped a single up the middle to plate the first Mudcat run. Colin drove in Charley with a hard liner to left, and Asher picked up an RBI with a fielder's choice. That put the 'Cats in their ideal situation: two outs. As they have throughout the season, they continued to score, with Brenner roping an RBI single the opposite way and Noah going straight back up the middle to complete the five-run inning.
Score after three and a half innings: Mudcats 5, Bats 4

Fifth inning
The suddenly red-hot offense continued to put the ball in play and force the Bats to make plays. With one out, Chris, Channing and Will reached consecutively. That enabled Brady to pick up an RBI with a fielder's choice, and then (as usual), the 'Cats came through with two outs. This time, it was Charley lining a single to left-center to score Channing and provide a three-run lead.
Score after four and a half innings: Mudcats 7, Bulls 4


Sixth inning
The biggest Mudcat inning of the season so far began with Gabe's third hit of the night, a single back up the middle. He moved to second on a fielder's choice, then raced to third on Asher's single. That set the stage for one of the biggest plays of the game. With one out, Brenner grounded to shortstop and immediately hustled to first. The Bats retired Asher at second and then tried to double up Double B. But Brenner's hustle prevented them from turning the double play, as the first baseman had to stretch off the bag to try and secure the throw. After a quick deliberation and some expert lawyering by Coach Tom, the umpires agreed that Double B was much too fast to be doubled up, and the inning continued, with Gabe's run counting and two outs. As it turned out, that was just the beginning: the 'Cats pushed across seven two-out runs, with nine straight batters reaching base and the inning only coming to an end because of the two-run rule. The additional RBI in the inning came from Donovan (who blasted his second double of the game to drive in a pair), Chris (who also picked up a 2-RBI line drive), Will, Brady and Charley.
Score after five and a half innings: Mudcats 15, Bats 5


Tuesday's Web Gems

• With a man on first, the second Bats batter of the game lined a hard shot up the middle. Charley made a diving attempt for it at shortstop and nearly snagged it, causing the runner to hesitate to make sure he wasn't going to make a terrific play in the air. The ball continued into the outfield, where Ben scooped it up and fired into Brady, who was alertly covering second, for the force.
• With two on in the fifth, just one out, and the meat of the Bats order due up, Donovan drifted back and made a one-handed catch of a towering fly ball in left center.
• With the Bats attempting to mount a rally in the bottom of the last inning, Bryce knocked down a hard grounder to first and had the presence of mind to stay with it while stretching to tag the bag and get the force.

Tuesday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Mudcats	0	0	0	5	2	8	15	18
Bats	3	0	1	0	1	2	7	15

Rainout rescheduled

According to the West Raleigh website, the Mudcats-Scrappers game that was rained out this past Saturday has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 15, at 5 p.m. Yes, this means the All Blacks will play three days in a row and four games in five days.

Please add this game to your calendars. Pregame will begin at 4 p.m.

Game 2: Mudcats 4, Lookouts 1

After winning with an offensive display in their season opener, the Mudcats picked up a win Sunday night at West Raleigh with an impressive defensive showing. The All Blacks limited the Lookouts to just seven hits and made a series of highlight reel plays, allowing just one run--the second-fewest runs allowed by any Minor League team so far this season. The pitcher's duel was the lowest-scoring game of the young 2012 West Raleigh campaign.

"We made so many great plays," Coach Sean told the team as they gathered on the hill after the game. "Unfortunately, I forgot the stickers."

APRIL FOOL'S! Of course Coach Sean, who has a steel trap memory, remembered the stickers, and every Mudcat received two--one for Thursday's win and one for Sunday. Will received a bonus sticker for his sweet catch in left field, and Gavin also earned a defensive sticker for stellar play all over the infield.

Tremendous defense shut out the Lookouts, who were playing with just 10 players, for the first five innings. The visitors had at least one runner on in every inning, but the 'Cats tightened up with runners in scoring position and allowed just a lone run in the sixth. The Lookouts eventually put the potential tying run on first in the sixth as they loaded the bases with two outs, but a smooth Charley-to-Gabe force ended the inning and the game, running the Mudcat record to 2-0.

The All Blacks hit the field again on Tuesday at 5:30, which means pregame begins at 4:30.

Sunday's Mudcat scoring plays
Fourth inning
The Mudcats again did some two-out damage (seven of the 'Cats 16 runs this season have been scored with two outs), as Gavin singled to center and Coach Mike--against every impulse he had--held Gavin at first. Brady roped a double to right that scored Gavin, and Charley's line drive double scored Brady.
Score after four innings: Mudcats 2, Lookouts 0

Fifth inning
Gabe reached to lead off the inning and then moved to second on Colin's single to left. Coach Adam provided some expert batting tips to Asher, instructing him to, "Make it be a strike." Listening closely, Asher decided to swing at a pitch that almost bounced in front of the plate, pounding it into the dirt on a swinging bunt between the pitcher's mound and first. What Asher knew that Coach Adam didn't know is that the Lookouts were going to throw the ball into deep right field, scoring two runs.
Score after five innings: Mudcats 4, Bulls 0


Sunday's Web Gems

• Will set the tone in the first inning by snagging a fly ball in left field that would have otherwise scored at least one run.
• Colin continued a streak of four consecutive outs by the Mudcats when he ran under a fly ball to left-center leading off the second.
• With a man on second, Brenner saved a run by catching a fly ball later in the second inning.
• Gavin ranged far to his left and made a leaping grab of a pop fly that appeared ticketed for the outfield in the third.
• Proving he could do it anywhere in the infield, Gavin made a leaping catch of a line drive at shortstop in the fourth.
• With two on, Charley fielded a hard bouncing ball in medium to deep center field and fired a laser to Gavin, who was alertly covering second base. The rare 8-6 forceout ended what looked like could be a big Lookout fourth.
• Colin dashed to his left and made a diving catch of a pop fly at pitcher with a man on second in the fifth.

Sunday's line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Lookouts	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	7
Mudcats	0	0	0	2	2	X	4	9