Game #11 Mudcats 4 ~ Bats 3 :-) NICE WIN CATS !!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME :-) This Mudcat Mom must have missed an AWESOME GAME !!!

Tough night to work, but my Mudcat Husband kept me updated  by texting me the play by play of the game from the boys !

Bleacher Dad Dale and  the crew gave me an awesome breakdown of this Mudcat WIN !
I talked to Action Jackson about 9pm and all he said was, " Mommy, we played great and I got robbed TWO times " ! I knew a Mudcat Coach must have handled his two out's well for his self esteem :-)

Here's the breakdown: Mudcat Bleacher Dad Dale ~ you are Awesome !

Here's the breakdown:

 

Practice makes Perfect! Great Defense Mudcats!  A nice 4-3 win against the first place Bats as everyone played great and came together to clamp down on the Bats' offense.

I think we all saw a glimpse of the future everyone. It seemed we were watching our boys play as young men with poise and determination. Our wonderful coaching staff needs to take some credit for this win as fundamentals taught in practice was the difference in this one. A muddy, wet field had the ball skipping around in the outfield and staying low in the infield all game long from the week long drizzly rain and overcast skies.

Did anyone see the swamp at 3rd base?

1st:

The top of the first everyone was ready to play. Will and Channing caught pop ups and Cameron had a nice play then throw for a force out at 2nd. No balls hit to the outfield....yet. On offense, Connor came up with 2 outs and destroyed the ball sending it rocketing to short; #88 held his ground but the ball was too fast and he couldn't make a play and injured his forearm trying to stop it as well. Coach Jamie heard the "smack" of the ball hitting his arm and was the first one on the scene to insure he was OK. After a few minutes of recovery #88 stayed in the game. The Mudcats then scored 2 runs with the 2 out rally As Channing got a single next. Cameron came up, waited for the perfect pitch - then proceeded to BOMB one to left center to drive in Connor and Channing. 2-0 Mudcats after the first.

2nd:

The Mudcat defense was stifling again as the Bats could only muster a couple of singles in the top of the 2nd. The defensive highlight was an impressive call "3-3-3-3" by Cameron as Jackson fielded a ball cool as a cucumber and then made it look easy spinning and throwing to Cameron for the 2nd out. Channing closed the inning looking like Pedroia (although I bet Channing is taller) fielding and throwing to Will at 2nd; smooth as silk. 

2nd - 3rd:

Blink and you missed the bottom of the 2nd and top of the third as both teams went 1-2-3. Still 2-0 Mudcats going into the bottom of the 3rd. Alex had a great hit to start out the bottom of the 3rd. We loved it as he smiled and high fived coach Rob when Alex got to first. Sam blazed to first to beat out an infield grounder for a single - man is he fast. Mason Jones then drove one over 2nd base for a solid hit with a sweet swing (thanks for the pointers during batting practice Dad!!!). Julio had some nice swings but was unlucky at the plate in the 3rd. We were held scoreless going into the top of the 4th but the hits translated to confidence in the field.

4th:

Will caught a pop up to start the top of the 4th. After the Bats got a single, #53 laced one to right center all the way to the fence to drive in the first Bats run. Channing made a tough grounder look easy at 2nd and made a good throw to Brayden for out #2. The Bats scored another one and we went to the bottom of the 4th 2-2. We came up to bat looking loose and ready to hit in the bottom of the 4th. Brayden had a nice hustle single to start us out. Channing kept the momentum going with a screaming liner to center for a double driving in Lefty who scored with smart base running watching where the ball was being thrown and racing to home before time was called. Cameron then drove in Channing with a clutch hit that proved to the be the game winning run. Will then collected a nice hit as we left the 4th up 4-2.

5th:

Jackson made it look easy during the top of the 5th as he smoothly collected 2 grounders and threw perfectly to Brayden for a quick 2 outs. Practice makes perfect coaches! Then the Moose show happened! The Bats drove one to left...Moose immediately charged; glove up ready to go with the rest of left field ready to back him up. Mason N. looked confident and no one else challenged him for the ball (again - practice makes perfect). He ran up to the ball to his right at a tough angle and snagged it out the air on the run!! Coach Chris jumped up and high fived him. Moose was lucky to make it back the dugout as his teammates congratulated him the whole way back with proud Papa watching. The families in the stands felt proud as well as it is obvious all the Mudcats are "our" kids as we cheered his spectacular catch to end the inning 1-2-3. Still 4-2 Mudcats.

The bottom of the 5th started with Sean Patrick's slicing single and Moose still beaming from the awesome catch smacking a single as well. Although no runs were scored the solid hitting carried the momentum and confidence to the field to close the game.

6th:

The first place Bats would not go down easy. They confidently collected single after single and scored another run. The Mudcats had had enough as Brayden put his glove on the ground to collect a grounder and calmly stepped on first - 2 outs. With runners at 1st and 2nd, 2 outs the Bats looked confident as the top of the line up came up to bat. Another tough grounder, this time heading for Will. He cooly collects it and tosses it to Cameron for out number 3.

Wait - we don't get to bat again?!? Mudcats WIN 4-3. The Bats emotion over flowed as some carried tears to the shake hands line and we saw great sportsmanship from parents and kids alike as the Mudcat family congratulated the Bats for playing with heart and not giving up. Coach Jamie then handed out web gem stickers and clutch hitting stickers as the coaches were held almost speechless with a common theme for the post game gathering being great fundamental defensive and poise under pressure to win the game against a tough team.

A side note of sportsmanship by Connor after the game by checking in on #88. Here's how it the dramatic scene played out: Connor walked up to him and said seriously "You alright? Sorry about that." #88 held tough and said "that's OK" and the combatants turned and walked away from each other respectfully to battle another day.

DALE ~Thank you for the breakdown and helping all of us who were not there know what happened !
I am so proud of all our Mudcats !!
WE BEAT THE # 1TEAM :-)
WOOHOO~Practice has made for "progress"! PROGRESS before PERFECTION !!!
Connor, AKA Smiley AKA CRUSH ! Thanks for the sportsmanship :-)
So sorry I missed the game, but so glad for the play by play breakdown :-)
See you all Saturday afternoon !!!

GO MUDCATS :-) Amanda