Legend & Rookie Cat-Alyze Win

Sea Kittens moved to 2-0 in the Madison Sport and Social Club Fall season with an 18-2 romp past Bat Intentions (0-2) in a festive, almost-birthday party Thursday night atmosphere at Bowman Park.  Sea Kitten Legend “Gretchen” G-Bomb Hansen returned to the Cats for the first time since September 2015, and Taylor TayTay Peltier (really-say it out loud- it’s fun) became the 100^th player in Sea Kittens history.  The presence of both energized the team, and the duo delivered at the plate and in the field, as well.

Hosts for the evening’s affair, Los Gatitos del Mer took the field first.  Joe Hennessy made his second start of the fall on the pitchers’ bump, and he and the Kitten defense had to work around a pair of Bat intention hits en route to posting a scoreless first inning.  While still winless in 2022, the Bats had visibly and markedly improved from the squad the Cats faced in late April.

It’s a line drive in the book. G-Bomb collects one of her three hits in a triumphant Kitten cameo.

Sweet Thing Harkins broke the ice for the Kittens in the bottom of the first, poking a one-out single to get the party started.  Chill Hil Dugan and David “Zen Master” Rowe followed with singles in the most nonchalant manner possible and Dan DynamOele drove in the team’s first run with a single off the right-centerfield fence.  (ed. note: Yes-  right(ish)-center. Dan. For real.)  With the bases loaded, Peltier stepped to the plate for the first at-bat of her life. Nonplussed- at least to the casual observer- TayTay put the ball in playplay and collected the first run batted in of her life, giving The Cats a 2-0 lead.  Slash Grutzik followed with a two-run single and Hennessy doubled and dashed home on a single from Mama Cat O’Brien- though he was dead to rights at home until the ball squirted away from the Bat Intention catcher. Hansen banged an RBI single in her second at-bat of the inning, and when the dust all finally settled Sea Kittens held a 7-0 advantage.

Bat Intentions broke through for a run in the top of the second, but Sea Kittens answered in kind.  Rowe and Peltier singled- you know it- first hit… of her life, and Grutzik doubled home a run.  Alas, Hennessy couldn’t get the ball out of the infield with two outs and runners on second and third, and the rally died.

The Kits’ defense worked methodically through the subsequent innings, holding in check any nefarious intentions the Bats may have had, while the Kits’ offense clicked along, posting 5-spots in both the third and fourth innings.  Alas, Hennessy couldn’t get the ball out of the infield with two outs and runners on second and third in the third inning, and the rally died. And alas, Hennessy couldn’t get the ball out of the infield with two outs and runners on second and third in the fourth inning, and the rally died.  Still, damage done by the Kitten Collective, and the team cruised to its fifth win in its past six games.

Salmon Snacks

• Taylor, for playing her first softball game ever and doing all the things- went 2-3, drove home a run, walked, and played flawless defense at both catcher and second base
• “Gretchen” for jumping in and playing with her Sea Kitten forever family again, going 3-5 with two runs scored and two RBI
• Jami, Alex, & Laura because we know they wanted to be there- and Jami especially didn’t want her consecutive games-played streak to end
• Stephen went 4-4 with two doubles and 7 RBI
• Dan & Erin each knocked three hits and scored three runs
• Aaron went 3-3 with a double and a walk, and didn’t collide with Dave in the outfield

Sea Kittens Great Fillet of the Game

You didn’t have to see it to believe it. Vote here for the Sea Kittens Great Fillet of the Game!  Congrats to Adrienne for winning the Great Fillet in her Kitten cameo last week- all were delighted by her ball-magnetism when she moved to shortstop in the 4th inning.

Next Up

Hot Pitches (2-0) host Sea Kittens (2-0) Thursday, September 1 in a battle of two of the league’s four remaining unbeaten teams.  The Pitches will be looking to avenge a pair of July losses to the Cats- both games were closely played, but Sea Kittens eventually pulled away to 6- and 7-run victories.  Zen Master Rowe will get the start for the Cats, who will be without Roadrunner, Puma, and Slash. Start time 6:30 PM, Bowman Field 2. 

Game Notes

• Sea Kittens are one win shy of matching the most wins in a calendar year in team history.  The Cats sit at 13-3-1 for 2022; the 2016 team went 14-5 in MSCR & Harmony Tournament play, and the 2018 team went 14-4 in MSCR & Harmony games.
• Taylor became the 100^th person to appear as a Sea Kitten… but only 54 people have played more than 4 games.
• 106 games had passed since “Gretchen” last played with the Cats, by far the longest gap between appearances in team history.  Detroit Josh Ghena had a 24 game-gap.
• Speaking of Detroit Josh, Stephen has passed him on the all-time games played list. Stephen has 30 under his belt now, good for 20^th all-time.
• Dan’s first-inning single was the 300^th hit of his career
• Erin’s first-inning RBI was career #150 for her
• Pitching-wise, Joe has allowed fewer than 10 runs in seven straight starts, tied for his career best and tied for second-most all-time.  Dave had a run of 11 such starts in 2015-2016.
• Jami’s consecutive games played streak ended at 48, 4^th all-time.  Stephen now has the longest active streak- at 9 games, and barring rain, it’ll end next week.  Everybody else is at 0,1, or 2!

Coach, you set a bad example with your long vacation- has everyone thinking they can just take time off from the team. -Slash

Most Consecutive games played, Sea Kitten history