Westside Mudcats

While it is Logan's turn to start, we'll probably allow him to throw 2 innings and replace him with another pitcher. Our original plan was to insert Ethan Hayes, but Drew was so disappointed that he would not get to face his old team, that we changed our plans to accommodate his wishes. There's nothing in the world like facing your former teammates. Drew's turn in the rotation

actually comes up Friday May 19 against the Varnell Braves, Hopefully, Drew will be able to hold Varnell close and we will be able to give Ethan another shot on the mound in the third inning of Friday's game.

The game against our other Westside team is always bittersweet. It is much more fun for the players than the coaches. The players always enjoy playing against their classmates at Westside Elementary, but the coaches want to keep the game close. Against any other team, the coaches want to win 20 to1, but the coaches would have been happier with a 8 to 7 victory over the Mudcats.

The Mudcats have a number of good players and we want all of these boys to continue to play baseball in Westside athletics. With only 21 players between two teams, if we lose 4 players from the association, we slip from two teams to one team. New Hope had a similar situation this year. Playing 17 boys in each game is difficult and it can cause more boys to lose interest, by allowing limited playing time. The Whitfield County Recreation Department really should consider combining two age groups (9-10 year olds) like Dizzy Dean and Dixie Youth. This improves the overall quality of play, because the younger boys learn from the older boys.

When I was playing little league baseball in Albany, GA, we combined 9-12 and had a major league-minor league system (two leagues). We were able to field 6 major league teams and 3-4 minor league teams from each elementary school team. Nine year olds, who had sufficient skills, could make the major league league team. Twelve year olds with limited skills would be among the best players in the minor league system. It improved their self-esteem and kept them interested in baseball. In playing ball on a major league team against 12 year olds, when I was 9, I was much better, skill-wise, when I became 12. It was actually an "honor" to be 9 or 10 on a major league team and every boy worked hard to improve their skills and earn a spot on the try-out team. Later, in High School, we were better able to compete against the Valdosta's and Thomasville's because our youth program was so advanced.

Game Summary

As you already know, the Cubs defeated the Mudcats 13-2. We tried to hold back our "little monsters" on the base paths for the benefit of the Westside Athletic Program. At least one player, Drew Guffey, was kept from getting a home run (he got a triple instead), because we were trying to keep the game as close as possible. The picture of Brian Ownbey and the caption pretty much sums it up. We have been working hard all year to make the boys aggressive on the base paths. In this case they have learned "too well".

In the Cubs half of the first inning, Logan lead off the game with a double and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Blake followed with another perfect bunt. We sent Logan home on the play and Landon cable made a clean catch and Henson Gibbs, their catcher, tagged Logan out at Home. Nine times out of ten, the opposing team does not make this play, but in this case, it cost the Cubs a run and a single. Drew Guffey walked. Both Blake Ownbey and Drew Guffey scored on a single by Clay Phillips. Clay crushed the ball again, but the outfielder made a good play in holding Clay to a single. After a strike-out utilizing a very liberal strike zone, Ethan Hayes slammed a single to score Clay. Ethan has found his stroke (he went 2 for 2 again tonight) and is beginning to drive the ball to the outfield. Jackson Bell walked and Ethan Hayes scored on wild pitches. A strikeout ended the inning, leaving Jackson stranded at third.

Blake Ownbey, Drew Guffey, Clay Phillips, and Ethan Hayes scored in the first inning. Drew Guffey picked up a stolen base. Clay Phillips- stolen base, Ethan Hayes - 2 stolen bases, Jackson Bell 2 stolen bases.

In the bottom of the first, Logan Walked the first two batters and after a strikeout, Logan allowed a looping line drive double (just over Drew Guffey's glove) by Landon Cable to score two runs. The hit was driven into the gap and Ethan "Racehorse" Neal got to the ball quickly, and made a great throw to the infield to hold Landon to a double. This would be their only hit of the game and runs of the game. Logan ended the inning by striking out Henson Gibbs and Tucker Burns.

In the Cubs half of the second inning, Chip Brown, Dakota Ware, and Logan Hilton lead off the inning with back-to-back-to-back walks. Blake Ownbey singled to score all three runs and pick up 3 RBI's. Drew Guffey followed with a walk. Both Blake and Drew scored on wild pitches to end the inning due to the 5-run rule.

Chip Brown, Dakota Ware, Logan Hilton, Blake Ownbey, and Drew Guffey each scored in the inning.

In the Mudcats second inning, Logan stuck out the first batter, walked the next two, and then struck out the next two batters to end the inning. Clay did an outstanding job of keeping the ball in front of him and preventing the two base runners from advancing. Clay continues to improve with each game. Our original plan was to allow Logan to pitch two innings and bring Drew in to pitch against his old team mates. With a seven-run lead, we initially instructed Drew to begin pitching the 2nd inning. It is very difficult being a coach and a father and often a coach's son is penalized, because you want to avoid favoritism. We decided to allow Logan to pitch another inning, because this is what we would have done (and have done in the past) for the other pitchers.

In the Cubs 3rd inning, the Cubs scored one run on a walk by Ethan Neal and a double by Ethan Hayes. Ethan is beginning to hit the ball very well and we really need his bat. Both Ethan and Clay each have the power to drive the ball to the fence. Both are beginning to make more contact.

Drew went in to pitch against his old team mates in the third inning. Drew struck out the first batter and walked the next two. Preston Pangle advanced to third on wild pitches. On the first pitch after walking the second batter, Clay Phillips displayed his rocket arm, by throwing out the base runner attempting to steal second base. It wasn't even close. This should have been the second "caught stealing" of the game for Clay, but we dropped a good throw and missed the tag on an earlier steal. Drew struck out Landon Cable to end the inning and shut down the Mudcats scoring threat.

In the Cubs last at bat, the inning started with a walk by both Chip Brown and Dakota Ware. Blake Ownbey walked to load the bases. Drew Guffey then hammered the ball to pick-up three RBI's and a triple. The play looked like mass confusion because we were trying to keep the boys from scoring. Three runs would have immediately ended the game. The 11-run lead (after the the three RBI's) would have immediately ended the game by mathematical elimination, and would have prevented Drew from getting credit for a home run. We also were trying to prevent any runs from scoring, so Clay would have an opportunity to pitch in the last Mudcats at bat. Unfortunately, the Mudcats opted to pitch Landon for four-innings. He was very tired and allowed a number of bases-on-balls. Landon threw 104 pitches during the game, so I'm sure he slept very well after the game. As you know, we try to limit our Cubs pitchers to 3 innings or 60 pitches.

The Cubs went up to the plate swinging, and we ended the game with 6 hits and 10 walks. The Cubs had only 4 strike-outs and one of those was due to a very liberal strike zone. We had one player go down (strike out) swinging and one player took two called third strikes. Every Cubs player was told (prior to the game) that they may see very few strikes, and they must be ready to swing at any hittable pitch.