Hittas Swat Kittens

Between September 5, 2024 and September 3, 2025, Da Hittas established themselves as the team to beat in Madison Sport & Social Club Thursday night play, winning 22 of 24 games in that span and three consecutive league championships; the two blemishes during the time frame were both 1-run losses.  The last team to beat Da Hittas by more than one run was… your very own Sea Kittens, July 25, 2024.  So the Cats knew a stern test awaited them in their September 4 matchup at Bowman Park.  Well, it could’ve gone better, but the Kits (0-1-1) showed their trademark resilience in keeping the game competitive despite some unfortunate unforced errors.  In the end, Da Hittas (2-0) cruised to a 12-6 victory after jumping to an early lead.

Sea Kittens drew first blood in the game, scratching out a run behind three straight two-out hits in the top of the first inning.  Jami “Roadrunner” Hauer dumped a single into right field between a trio of defenders, and raced to third on David “The Ringer” Engeldinger’s blistering double to left-center.  Then “All Day” Kendra Haight delivered in the clutch with a hard ground single up the middle to give Sea Kittens a 1-0 advantage.

Kendra gives the Cats an early lead!

But Da Hittas made a strong answer in the bottom of the first, finding space in front of the Cats’ outfielders on this breezy and unseasonably cool evening.  In the end, Da Hittas tagged the Kittens and spot starter Real John Oliver for 5 runs, despite two outfield assists  from Josh “Rusty” Weber.  Weber hit Hauer at second to cut down a runner attempting to stretch  a single, and then initiated an entertaining 7-6-3-1 putout of a runner retreating to first after rounding first base hard, attempting to advance after an overthrow, and then falling and rolling in the dust in a very Sea Kitten-esque manner.

The Cats clawed back into the game with two hard-earned runs in the top of the 2nd.  Erin “Mama Cat” O’Brien led off with a single and after a fielders choice, Katie “Sunshine” Curtis beat out an infield hit.  Oliver knocked a pretty single to right to bring home the Cats’ first run of the inning while Curtis scampered to third.  Laura “Red Shoes” Hewitt then brought home Curtis with a productive grounder, cutting Da Hittas’ lead to 5-3.

On loan from Bottomfeeders SC, starting pitcher Real John Oliver displays his trademark backside stroke.

Da Hittas struck right back, plating three more runs to go ahead 8-3, but Sea Kittens did not let the game get away from them.  Stephen “Slash” Grutzik singled to open the Sea Kitten 3rd, and after Da Hittas’ second basewoman robbed Roadrunner of a hit- diving to her right to snatch a line drive ticketed for centerfield-  Engeldinger mashed his second double of the game to bring home Grutzik.  One out later Braden “Gas” Furness continued his recent hot streak (13 for his last 17) with his first career triple- a bloop job just inside the right field line.

With Da Hittas lead cut to 8-5, the Sea Kitten defense clamped down and limited Da Hittas to a single run in the bottom of the 3rd, but Da Hittas retired seven consecutive Sea Kittens between the end of the 3rd and top of the 6th and gradually extended the advantage to 12-5.

Down but not out, the Cats finally put ducks back on the pond in the top of the 6th, with Hauer and Engeldinger singling to set up shop.  But a mysterious call on a muffed looper to right resulted in a “double play” that ended the rally before it could get going.  Haight lifter a short liner to right, and the charging Hittas right fielder got his glove on it but the ball popped loose.  Seeing the ball hit the ground, Roadrunner & The Ringer went in motion, and then the umpire (maybe?) ruled “catch.”  Engeldinger scampered  back to first, and Hauer returned to second.  Standing on second she was tagged, and called out on a force.  So maybe it wasn’t a catch?  But then Engeldinger would’ve been out at 2nd, and Haight safe at first…   Or maybe it was a catch, and the umpire thought Hauer hadn’t returned in time?  Perhaps, though Da Hittas shortstop was confused as to why she was called out…  but these things happen.

Hennessy could not play, but was very excited about Braden’s triple!

The Cats held serve in the 6th, finally keeping Da Hittas off the board, and opened the top of the 7th with four consecutive singles, loading the bases and plating a run for the top of the batting order.  But Weber’s screaming liner went directly to short, and Slash’s smashed grounder the 3rd-base line got picked off and turned into an easy game-ending double play.

Salmon Snacks

• John for stepping in and subbing on a very tough assignment
• Braden for his first career three-bagger
• David was 3-3, again
• Josh, Stephen, Erin & John for the entertaining double play
• Josh & Jami’s putout at 2nd
• Kendra for the two-out RBI in the 1st, and she deserved better on the “double play”
• Katie for two hits and going first-to-third twice!
• Laura for a great-bat to get a run home
• Joe to help that dog bite heal
• Josh to ease the sting of a long hitting streak ending

 

Sea Kittens Great Fillet of the Game

You didn’t have to see it to believe it.  Make your pick for the Sea Kittens Great Fillet of the Game!

Next Up

Sea Kittens (0-1-1) square off with Dairyland Dingers (1-1-0) in a 7:30 PM contest at Bowman Park September 11.  The Dingers are playing their first season in the Thursday Night upper division, and are well-prepared for it.  The teams split two matchups in 2025 second-division Spring League: the Dingers infamously rallying from a 12-0 first-inning deficit to claim a 15-14 walkoff win June 5 and the Cats exacting revenge with a 9-3 playoff semifinal win June 19.

Roster notes and transactions

Updated 9/8/2025

OUT

• Braden- painting
• Kendra- travel
• David- undisclosed
• Aaron- parenting
• Katie-travel

SIGNED

• None.  Two of the Sea Kitten infielders are going to have to figure out outfieldin’!

Game Notes

• Sea Kittens have played Da Hittas more than any other opponent (14 games, 4-9-1)
• This was Sea Kittens’ 275th game all-time (153-118-4, 0.564)
• Josh’s hitting streak ended at 46 games, matching Zen Master Rowe for 5th-longest in team history.  He’d had a hit in every game he’d ever played with the Cats dating back to his debut as a sub, July 9, 2014.
• But Josh also has three outfield assists across the past 2 games
• John’s start was the first game started by someone other than Joe or Dave since August 22, 2021… when John started for the Cats in the Harmony Tourney
• The last time someone else started a league game for Sea Kittens? Man-Aaron, July 31, 2019
• David made his 101st plate appearance as a Sea Kitten.  Would’ve noted his 100th, but that was his last at-bat last week.
• 6:30 blues continue-  Sea Kittens record, based on game start time:
  • Day games (Harmony Tourney): 7-9 (0.438)
  • 6-6:30 first pitch:  43-45-2 (0.494)
  • 7-7:30 first pitch: 51-25 (0.671)
  • 8pm & later first pitch: 52-39-2 (0.570)