The tone was set early, as the Scrappers put three quick runs on the board in the top of the first. That was a lead they never relinquished, as the All Black offense just never kicked into gear--continuing a trend that began in the final game of the regular season.
The 'Cats finished the year with 12 scoreless innings in the final three games (all losses). Compare that to the six-game winning streak just before that, when the Mudcats totaled just 10 scoreless innings in those half-dozen games. The two runs in Saturday's loss were a season low, as were the seven hits. It was the third straight game that the 'Cats were held to single-digit hits--the only three games all season that they didn't notch at least ten.
It doesn't seem possible, but the defeat ends the Minor League season for the Mudcats, even though it seems like it just started a couple days ago. When Asher started playing West Raleigh baseball way back in the fall of 2010, Andrew and Jenn DiMeo--who were essentially the Godfathers of our Minor League experience--told us that the three years on Nowell Field were by far the best baseball-playing years we would get to watch. On the Rookie League field, it starts to feel more like "real" baseball, but in the Minor League you can still spot a dad tying his son's shoe, and they're still kids.
That was probably the best piece of advice we received (even better than, "Always vote for black pants for the team uniform because they are much easier to keep clean"). But there are a few other things I think I'd want to know if I was the parent of a West Raleigh six-year-old:
1. These are the best years of your kid's baseball-playing life. Go to practice. Go to games. Let your kid hang around and play wall ball if he wants.
2. No one ever wins the raffle.
3. No matter how good you think your six-year-old is, he could have the absolute perfect at-bat, do everything completely perfectly, have a textbook swing...and still hit a routine grounder to the second baseman. This is not because you are a bad parent or have given him bad instruction. This is because he is six years old.
4. The chemistry of the team and how much fun they have in the dugout is largely dependent on the attitude of the eight-year-olds on the team.
5. I don't care what anyone says, I think blue shorts look just fine with black-and-red jerseys. Now decide if you think it's a good idea to take fashion advice from some guy who writes a blog.
6. Your team's best draft pick will unquestionably be the kid whose mom takes great pictures.
7. At some point in your son's baseball career, it will be better to be the home team. But at this age, it's better to be the visiting team, put runs on the board early, and let momentum carry you the rest of the way.
8. There will be innings and games and days when you think your kid is not very good. Keep in mind that you are comparing him to the very best 6-8 year-old baseball players in this area and maybe in this state. If you put your kid on the field in any other league, you would instantly see how good he is and have a renewed appreciation for the level of play in West Raleigh.
9. No matter how much you think you are going to make it through the last postgame speech of your kid's Minor League career, the head coach is almost certain to say or do something that turns you into mush.
10. That moment when you are hugging your son in the parking lot after his last game in the Minor League is going to be here way faster than you think, and it'll hurt when it gets here.
The game ended the career for a handful of Mudcat players and coaches. They are as follows:
Coach Matt: A two-year All Black coach who was indispensable this year in the first-base coaching box and in the outfield defensively. Also the unquestioned Czar of the Soft Toss.
Coach Sean: At our first team meeting last year, we were interrupted by someone--I have no idea who he was--who had apparently been coached by Coach Sean in a previous year and happened to be passing by the concession stand, where we were meeting. I don't remember the exact connection, but I do remember that before he walked away, he turned to the team and said, "You are lucky to have this guy as your coach." He was right. Every player on the Mudcats over the last two years improved over the course of the season. You're not supposed to get this kind of coaching--or this type of commitment and time devoted to the team--in 6-8 year-old baseball.
Luke: In his first year as a Mudcat, Luke was always positive and was extremely flexible defensively, playing a variety of positions. His bat was a big part of the 'Cat offense that was so potent throughout most of the season.
Hayden: Also a one-year Mudcat, Hayden became a valuable defensive cog behind the plate and caught fire offensively in the second half of the season.
Quenten: Burst onto the scene in his first season in West Raleigh. Quenten became one of the Mudcats' most consistent outfielders, where you could count on him for at least one web gem per game in center field.
Colin: Played two years as a Mudcat, spending significant time both at third base and in the outfield. A dangerous hitter who sprayed line drives all over the field. In two years, I don't think I ever heard Colin say anything negative about anybody.
Brenner: One of the three three-year Mudcats. After the draft in 2011, I remember Coach Andrew telling me, "I think I picked your shortstop (Gavin), second baseman (Brenner) and first baseman (Asher) for 2013." That's exactly how it worked out. Brenner was a fixture at the top of the order this year and keyed several big innings with his line drive stroke. A great teammate who you knew was always on your side.
Gavin: I have watched Gavin play a lot of baseball games over the past three years. In some ways, I think I take him for granted. Just know that an eight-year-old is not supposed to do what he does on the baseball field. I pretty much expected him to have the kind of offensive and defensive season that he had this year--which was, of course, phenomenal. But I wasn't sure if he could play that way without becoming too impressed with himself, because sometimes that happens. For Gavin, it never did. He was a great influence in the dugout and a solid leader on the field.
Asher: Probably the shortest first baseman in baseball history. Maybe also the toughest. And cutest. And best...oh, sorry, looks like Stephanie grabbed control of the keyboard for just a second. I don't know why Asher has such a great attitude and plays so hard in every second of every game. I just know that he didn't get it from his jerk dad. But I do know that I've had so much fun watching him play these last three years, I miss it already, and I think I'm going to wear my Mudcats shirt tomorrow.
Saturday's Mudcat scoring plays
First inning
Gavin hit a solo homer to center.
Score after one inning: Scrappers 3, Mudcats 1
Second inning
Quenten tagged a homer to center leading off the inning.
Score after two innings: Scrappers 3, Mudcats 2
Saturday's Web Gems
- In the first inning, Asher made a somersaulting catch of a pop foul behind first in shallow right.
- Brayden ended the first by snagging a hard-hit fly ball to right-center.
- Colin stabbed a hard line drive to third, then snapped a throw to Brenner at second to double off the runner.
- Jackson made a pair of nice back-to-back plays at pitcher, knocking down two consecutive ground balls--the first ending the fourth and the second leading the fifth--and then keeping his head, gathering the ball and firing to first to record the pair of outs.
- Cameron had to go back to the fence to retrieve a leadoff hit in the first, and when the runner got too aggressive, threw a strike to Gavin covering second, who made the catch and applied the tag to get the out.
- Will made a terrific catch on a ball that was crushed to left in the sixth.
| Saturday's line score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H |
| Scrappers | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Mudcats | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
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