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

Opening ceremonies and game canceled

Rain has washed out today's opening ceremonies and scheduled 3 p.m. game. The game will be rescheduled at a time and date TBA.

As of now, tomorrow's 5 p.m. game (pregame begins at 4 p.m.) against the Lookouts is still on.