Mudcats top Kearsley in walk-off fashion

Monday was a beautiful night in Grand Blanc, fitting for the Mudcats' final home game of the season. The home squad seemed to have things under control early Monday night, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Jacob Jackson singled to lead things off. He stole second, and then, with two outs in the inning, Brian Caine drove him in to put the Mudcats on top.

In the second inning, the Mudcats tacked on three more to push the lead to 4-0. The first two scored on bases loaded walks to Justin Pijaszek and Jackson, then Tim Hayden drove in another two out run with a single.

Meanhile, Pijaszek struck out the first batter of the night on three pitches (video 1 below), and needed just 39 pitches to complete three no-hit innings on the mound. Knowing that he would pitch again the next night, he was removed from the game headed into the fourth.

Tim Hayden entered the game to pitch and was able to hold Kearsley scoreless in the fourth with the aid of a double play (video 2 below). The Mudcats tacked on another run when Max Eaton was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on Pijaszek's two-out RBI single to give the Mudcats a commanding 5-0 lead.

In the fifth, Kearsley mounted a comeback. Three singles, two walks, and two hit batsmen led to five runs. Kyle Genord, who entered mid-inning, was able to induce outs from the final two batters, but not before the score stood tied at five.

 

The Mudcats were unable to break through in the fifth or the sixth, but Brian Caine pitched two shutout innings to set the stage for the Mudcats' walk-off win. Genord and Pijaszek reached base to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Coaches called on Tyler Hitchcock to move the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, but he laid down such a perfect bunt that he beat it out for a hit to load the bases with nobody out. Jackson then lifted a 1-1 pitch to right-center, deep enough to bring home Genord as the winning run (video 3 below).

The Mudcats are now 16-10 on the season as they close out league play with a doubleheader Tuesday at Carman-Ainsworth High School against the Great Lakes Cyclones.

Click here to view stats and game info on iScore.

Michigan Mudcats 9 - Tri-City Lightning 0 (game 1)

In the first of two against the Tri-City Lightning, the Mudcats hoped to get off to a good start. They did just that, as in the top of the first, Brian Caine set the Lightning down in order. The Mudcat offense then went right to work, with singles by Kyle Genord and Tim Hayden, followed by RBI singles by Brian Caine and Jack Scribner. Jason Caine lined to short and Max Eaton walked, followed by Tyler Hitchcock's RBI fielder's choice. A walk to Jacob Jackson loaded the bases with two out for Justin Pijaszek, who doubled over the center fielder to clear the bases and make it 6-0.

After another one-two-three inning from Brian Caine, Genord led the second off with a walk, followed by another Hayden single. Brian Caine's RBI single made it 7-0 with runners on first and second with nobody out. Scribner grounded into a fielder's choice, retiring Caine at second, but Hayden never broke stride and came all the way around to score. Jason Caine then tripled home Scribner to make it 9-0 after two.

Brian Caine pitched another shutout inning, allowing just one hit, before giving way to Hitchcock, who would strike out four and allow just two hits, as the Mudcats cruised to a 9-0 win.

Click here to view stats and game info on iScore.
 

Game 6: Mudcats Hold on for 9-7 Win (6/18)

It looked like it was going to be a tough one Tuesday night for the Mudcats when the Frankenmuth Eagles jumped on them for four quick runs in the top of the first. But pitcher Devyn Hadd settled in and retired three straight batters with the bases loaded, and the Mudcats answered with eight of their own in a first inning that lasted 45 minutes.

The Eagles chipped away at the lead and closed the gap to two runs at 9-7 in the fourth. With one out and runners on second and third, it looked like the lead might vanish altogether as a Frankenmuth batter lifted a Max Eaton pitch to left-center. But Noah Trieloff drifted over to make the play and then make a quick throw into the infield where Lon Martin's relay to Brian Caine at third retired the runner trying to advance from second, completing a double play and ending the Eagles' rally.

Lon Martin came in to shut down the Eagles in the fifth and final inning, striking out the final two batters. After the Mudcats batted the game ended on account of time with the Mudcats taking home their second straight 9-7 victory. The win raised their record to 3-3 on the season, including a mark of 2-1 in league games.

Next up for the Mudcats is another league contest Wednesday against Owosso at Legion Field #2.

Game 2: 20-5 Rout of Fenton Crush (6/6)

Kyle takes a first inning lead

Thursday night the 13u Michigan Mudcats brought home their first victory with a 20-5 win over the Fenton Crush. Six runs in the first inning got the team off to a great start and then, after their lead had been whittled down to 7-5, a 13-run explosion in the sixth inning put the game away.

Lon Martin started on the mound and went three strong innings, striking out six. Meanwhile on offense, Devin Hadd and Jason Caine each had three hits and three RBIs, keying a balanced offensive attack in which every player got at least one hit or RBI.

Next up for the Mudcats will be the Brighton Tournament the weekend of Father's Day.

Lon struck out six in three innings pitched

Johnny slides into third

The Mudcat defense makes the play

The Mudcats leave the field victorious

Season Opener vs. Grand Blanc Gladiators (6/3)

Ready to play ball!

In the inaugural game for the Mudcats Monday night, we fell to a talented Grand Blanc Gladiators squad by a score of 11-9 at Grand Blanc High School. A tight game throughout, it could have easily gone either way as the Mudcat defense repeatedly came up big, turning three double plays. In the end though, the Gladiators had just a little too much firepower. 

Devin Hadd was impressive on the mound, going four strong innings and Max Eaton reached base all three times he came to the plate. 

Keeping an eye on the action

What made this game all the more interesting was the fact that just two weeks ago, many of the players on the two teams were teammates playing for the Grand Blanc East and Grand Blanc West middle school teams! The Mudcats and Gladiators will match up again at the end of the season. In the meantime, next up for the Mudcats is the Fenton Crush, 6:30 Thursday night at the Union City Ballfields.