Run Like Mad Can’t Catch Cats

Recap

For the second consecutive week, Harmony Sea Kittens (2-0) enduring and outlasted a battering 7^th-inning rally from its opponents, this time topping Run Like Mad 8-6 in a nail-biter of an MSCR Kenosha League matchup. Twice in seven innings of play Sea Kittens ended a frame with the bases loaded with Mad baserunners, and twice again stranded its opponents on second & third base- in total Run Like Mad left 16 runner standing on base.  In the meantime, Sea Kittens only mustered 13 hits but deployed them efficiently and only stranded six baserunners in the entire contest. Making his first start of the season, Joe Hennessy (1-0) was greeted rudely by the first four RLM batters, all of whom reached base, plating one run and loading the bases for the lumbering outfielder Slugger Doug.  Digging in and pitching for a strikeout, Hennessy got the strikeout and a shot of adrenaline for the Cats.  Shortstop Dan DynamOele retired the next hitter on a popup and when Mama Cat Erin O’Brien made a nice stretch and catch on a low throw to complete an inning-ending ground out, Sea Kittens escaped with no further damage. Roadrunner Jami Hauer swatted a one-out single to get the Sea Kitten offense going in the bottom half of the inning, and after Man-Aaron Jossart drew a manly two-base walk, Sea Kittens punched two home for a one-run advantage. The lone tally Run Like Mad posted in the first inning proved to be the last run it would post until the fifth inning, but not for lack of opportunity.   The Sea Kitten defense settled in after a few first-inning jitters, but in the meantime the Harmony offense made little noise of its own, scoring only on a Hennessy sac fly after the Polish Puma Alex Latzka tripled to open the second inning. Down 3-1, the heart of the RLM order opened the fifth inning with a barrage of hits, including a run-scoring single from Doug to pull his squad within a run.  Pressured once again, Hennessy again worked a big strikeout, and Boom Boom- just inserted at third base- snagged a wicked liner for the second out.  A hit loaded the bases, and RLM outfielder Kyle stepped in and smoked a ball at Magyera.  Sea Kitten Kyle won the battle of Kyles, snatching the liner after juggling it once to take out some of the sting. With two out in the bottom of the fifth, Sunshine Curtis knocked her first hit of the season, and hustled home like a hustler on a triple off Hennessy’s bat.  Red Shoes Hewitt plated Hennessy with a hit and Los Gatitos had a 5-2 lead and a little breathing room. Harmony set down Run Like Made efficiently in the sixth and went to work again with two outs in the bottom of the inning.  Man-Aaron singled, and after scorching a ball just foul down the right-field line, Helen Boo Rabbit Bradley went back to the spot and burned the right fielder for an RBI double, providing DynamOele with a chance at the plate.  Oele delivered, crushing a homer run through the teeth of the wind and extending the Cat advantage to 8-2. Sensing victory, some Kitten-esque toying with their play ensued.  Hennessy walked the RLM leadoff hitter. Two hits and a fielder’s choice scored a run and put runners on first and second, but Hennessy found another good spot to induce a strikeout, effectively working the top and bottom of the strike zone. The game-ending out was tough to secure, and RLM cranked out two more RBI singles surrounding another base on balls, putting the game-tying runs on second and third, but the Cats corralled an inning- and game-ending grounder and strutted off winners.