With an early season heat wave, the Carolina Mens Baseball League adjusted its schedule and proceeded with an exciting slate of baseball games. Up at Castle Hayne the Port City Mudcats broke into the win column with an impressive victory over the Break Time Brewers 11-7. The winning pitcher was Mudcat David Eason  who combined with Steve Vaughan and Pat Hanley to shut down the Brewers’ offense. Manager Pat Hanley, Jay 

Hart and newcomer Tore DeLeo led the potent Mudcats’ offense. Despite a great game by Brewers’ Dan Southerland who hit two bombs out of the park and played stellar defense, the Brewers could not overcome the determined Mudcats. Scott Normandt played flawlessly at shortstop for the ‘Cats and inspired his team to their first victory. 

The late game at Castle Hayne featured Club Batter Up looking for its first win versus the Seahawks who were undefeated. Dave Robinson’s Batter Up team emrged victorious in a thriller. In a weird coincidence with last week’s victory by the Brewers which featured a triple play and Shootout victory, the Club Batter Up followed the same formula to defeat the Sehawks. The drama was set up by a three run homer off the bat of  Ed “the” Bearded Cat” Fowler of Club Batter Up to tie the game in the 6th inning. In the last regulation inning with the score tied and runners on first and third with none out, disaster struck the Seahawks. A line drive to pitcher Lee Shelton was the first out, followed by doubling off the runner at third with a throw to Rob Brothers who threw across the diamond to Jay Slaughter at first to nab the runner from first who had taken off at the crack of the bat. A 1-5-3 triple play! In the Shootout, the Seahawks were held scoreless and the Batter Up came to bat in the 8th.  Dave Blasingame got the walk-off hit  driving in  Chad McCullough with a hard  single to end the game 6-5 in favor of Club Batter Up. 

Back at Myrtle Grove, the Red Sox faced off with the Old Salts. The strong pitching of Brian Cardiero and the powerful offense of Mike Burke and Chet Nesley propelled the Red Sox to an early lead.  The Old Salts tried valiantly to comeback and closed the gap on the strength of the offense of Terry Peters and  the ubiquitous Dan Southerland who helped out the heat-challenged Old Salts. But the comeback fell short and the Red Sox prevailed 13-8. Of note, Jim Moore, the former Tarheel’s hoop star, made his pitching debut and acquited himself well. 

Next week, the League will take Father’s Day off and return to action on June 22nd.