As per occasional Mudcat tradition, the game began with some funky dance moves in the deep corner during the pregame talk:
If anyone knows who that kid's parents are, please ask them why he is so crazy.
The pregame hijinks must have inspired the 'Cats, who jumped out to a quick three runs in the top of the first to give them their first lead of the season over the Bulls. But some midgame defensive lulls and big hits by the opposition allowed the Bulls to storm back and take an 8-6 lead halfway through the game.
It was after that bottom of the third inning that Coach Sean reminded the All Blacks how much they had improved since the first practice back in February. "You're better than you just showed," he said. "Now let's go out and pound the baseball."
That's exactly what they did. Because the first two innings were very lengthy, the game was creeping towards the 90-minute West Raleigh time limit. That meant the fourth and the fifth were the final two innings of the game, and the 'Cats controlled those frames, outscoring the Bulls 5-2 and getting hits from seven different players in the final two innings alone.
Combined with the late-game heroics last time out against the Thunder, the Mudcats have now outscored the opponents by a combined 10-3 in the last two innings of the last two games. They also have been incredibly proficient with two outs, as 26 of the last 29 'Cat runs have come with two outs.
Stickers went to everyone for the win, plus bonus stickers for Will (double bonus stickers for the triple and for the game-ending defensive play!), Gavin (3-for-3), Asher (3-for-3), Luke (great defense in left field to set the tone early in the game), Jackson (ignited the rally in the top of the fifth) and Colin (finished off the rally with a two-run single).
Special thanks to the rally monkey, who made an appearance on the Mudcat dugout fence and also deserved a sticker:
The next Mudcat game is Saturday at 5 p.m. against the Scrappers. Please be at West Raleigh, wearing your fox repellant, by 4 p.m.
Thursday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Asher stroked a one-out double to left and scored on Gavin's single. Gavin moved up to second when the ball was misplayed in the outfield, which put him in position to score on Quenten's RBI single. Colin singled, took second on the throw to third as the Bulls tried to cut down the runner in front of him, and then scored on Cameron's RBI single.
Score after one-half inning: Mudcats 3, Bulls 0
Third inning
Jackson got it started by hustling out a grounder in the infield. Then, as usual, the All Black two-out attack kicked in. Asher singled, putting runners at the corners. Gavin singled in Jackson. Quenten powered a single between shortstop and third that loaded the bases. Colin singled to drive in Asher, and Gavin ran the bases like a rabid fox to come all the way around and score when the defense didn't pay enough attention to him.
Score after two and a half innings: Mudcats 6, Bulls 5
Fourth inning
Stop me if this sounds familiar: the Mudcats did it with two outs. The rally started with two outs and none on. Channing motored down the line to beat out a grounder to short. That set up Hayden, who lined a shot directly down the first-base line that whizzed past the chalk on the way to deep right field. Channing came all the way around to score, and when the Bulls had an overthrow trying to get Hayden at third, he popped up and hustled home for the second run of the inning.
Score after three and a half innings: Mudcats 8, Bulls 8
Fifth inning
Jackson started the eventual game-winning rally by lining a single. With one out, Asher singled back through the middle, putting runners on first and second. Gavin smoked a double to deep left that scored Jackson. Then, with two down in a clutch at-bat, Colin went the other way for a two-run single that provided just enough cushion to the Mudcat defense.
Score after four and a half innings: Mudcats 11, Bulls 9
Thursday's Web Gems
- Luke made two big run-saving catches in the first two innings in left field.
- Colin showed lightning-fast reflexes at third base by snagging a ball that appeared ready to whistle right by his ear for a double.
- With two outs in the fifth (and final) inning, the tying run on second base and the time limit expired, Will made a game-saving play by staying down on a grounder at second and firing to Asher at first for the game's final out.
| Thursday's line score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H |
| Mudcats | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | X | 11 | 16 |
| Bulls | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | X | 10 | 16 |
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