"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 |
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