Same old, same old. Winning, thy name is Mudhen. Another week, another sweep. Yes, there are any number of clichéd approaches to encapsulating the past two weeks of C. R. Tunes baseball. The crux of the matter is that the ‘Hens show no signs of faltering as they pull into the regular season’s final matchups.
Plattsburgh proved the toughest matchup for the dirtbirds in a long while, and with good reason: they continue to sport one of the most ludicrously overloaded rosters in the CVBL talent-wise, and Nate Bilow. Behind the admirable moundside effort put forth by Andy “Brendon” Noonan, the Cardinals backed the Mudhens up against the wall; a wall which, as unhappy fate would have it, was surrounded by Lyon Mountain fans fully enraptured by Take Me Out to the Ballgame Day spirit, if “spirit” is to be taken in the sense of “beer.” The Mudhens, however, rallied as only the Mudhens can, and sent Noonan, his shutout, his team, and possibly his family crying home to Lefty Wilson Field. Game highlights included Dave Davidson’s immortal words to Jason Kaplan: “Hit the ball.”
CVBL insiders pegged the following week’s doubleheader as a mortal lock for the Mudhens. Could Loreman’s prove the doubters wrong? Could they use the bad press to fuel an improbable, if not miraculous win vs. the league’s finest? Were the games attended by Horacio “El Jefe” Zantana, Dan Hoffman’s Mexican half-brother, who wowed the assembled fans by successfully roping and hogtying Travis Lavarnway between games? No, no, and, sadly, no. The ‘Hens bulldozed through the hapless hatters like they were a tree in front of a federal building, claiming both games by virtue of the 10-run rule. Dave Davidson finally started to turn some of his critics around by hitting his second homerun on the season. Perhaps now he won’t have to point to the somewhat flimsy evidence provided by his .600+ average to back up his boasts. Hoffman also did his part, hosing down a Loreman’s runner at the plate in a play that will surely stand the test of time in the mind of Dan Hoffman.
And so onward we sail, bravely into the oft-traveled reaches of the CVBL rainout dates. Another bloodbath versus Loreman’s lies two Sundays distant, the hilarity it will assuredly provide tempered by next weekend’s matchup: Plattsburgh. After all, the accolades heaped upon the Mudhens thus far are heartening, but all will come to naught if they fail to dethrone the reigning league champions of the world. And while that can’t happen this doubleheader, the games can serve as proof positive that it will happen come August’s end. So come on down, gang: the games are at friendly Bailey Avenue, so you need not worry about the grueling 15 minute drive to Saranac. Dave’s Dynamos will be happy to have you.
MUDHENS ROUNDUP!
HIP HIP, HOORAY! – Mike Bergman recently achieved the rich reward of a yearlong quest, obtaining the Mudhens’ theme song, “The Henhouse is Rockin’ Tonight,” from Coach Roger. Words cannot describe this website’s happiness over his newfound ability to play the song whenever he pleases. Which is fitting, insofar as the song doesn’t really seem to use words itself.
I’M STILL WAITING ON MY GAS MONEY – The annual Mudhens Raff-Tacular-Stravaganza will be held at the Plattsburgh doubleheader this Sunday. The raffle was to have been held sooner, but Roger cited various and sundry marginally valid reasons to push it back time and again. Prizes include apparel, pretzels (to be won by Davidsons only), and a kiss from Matt Kahan.
I DON’T HAVE MANY ROUNDUP ITEMS THIS WEEK, SO HERE’S A COMPLETELY BASELESS RUMOR – Jon Dumas: on the juice. You heard it here first.