Hot and cold Muckrakers split a pair

CONCORD -- It's evident the CCT Muckrakers don't plan on doing anything the easy way.

The Muckrakers' postseason dreams edged toward reality two weeks ago in an ultra-dramatic 14-13, come-from-behind-then-hold-them-off victory over Weideman Construction, then suffered a bit of a blow in an 18-13 setback to the Un-Athletics on Thursday on Field 1.

The 'Rakers' bats ran hot and cold against the deceptively named
Un-Athletics, who proved highly more athletic than the first go-round, a 10-run Muckraker victory. In this encounter, the 'Rakers bats were potent only in the first and fourth innings.

Mike Yurkus and Dave Taxier, making his debut in the two-hole, and Randy Striegel set the table with a walk, single and walk, respectively. Mat Petersen singled in a run, and Luke Abbott (showing them how they roll Down Under) drew a clutch walk to force in another run. Chace Bryson singled in the final run of the half-inning and the Mucksters were quickly up 3-0.

The U-A took some umbrage however, plating six of their own in the bottom half of the first. They padded their lead to take a 9-3 advantage into the fourth.

The Muck-N-Grinders played the fourth like they meant it. They sent sent 13 to the plate in the top half as Chris Wagnon struck a key blow to drive in a run. By the time the top of the fourth was over, the ‘Rakers had struck for nine runs, as Taxier, Striegel, Petersen, Mike Rieger and Steve Moscatelli's pal all drove in key runs. Just like that, a six-run deficit was turned into a three-run advantage.

But the Muckinators put goose eggs on the board in the fifth and sixth, and the U-A refused to get with the program as they chipped away and eventually won by five.

The game was a sharp contest to the one played before it, as the Muckrakers took a 14-11 lead going into the final inning. Weideman made it close by scoring twice, but Striegel gobbled up a grounder at shortstop and threw strong and accurately to Moscatelli and first to end the threat and the game. Dave Alcorn had three hits and three runs scored, Mike Gale went 2-for-4 with two hits
and two RBI, and Petersen went wild (4-for-4, two runs, four RBI).

The 'Rakers will need more hitting like that if they're sniff the
postseason roses. Next up is first-place Air Pro, at 6:15 on Field 4. Nobody needs to tell anyone in Raker Nation just how big this game is, with only three ballgames left to the regular season.