Raleigh News & Observer Logo

Massive turnaround has Mudcats in the race | Raleigh News & Observer

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Support
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Sponsorships
    • Stay connected
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Social Media Directory
    • N&O Store
    • Buy Photos
    • Databases
    • Archives
    • Newsletters

    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Health
    • Local
    • North Carolina
    • Nation/World
    • Science
    • Thumbs Up
    • Traffic
    • Weather
    • Weird News
    • All News
    • Counties
    • Durham County
    • Johnston County
    • Orange County
    • Wake County
    • All Sports
    • Baseball
    • Canes
    • College
    • Columns & Blogs
    • High Schools
    • NASCAR & Auto Racing
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NHL
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Panthers
    • Soccer
    • Schools
    • Duke
    • East Carolina
    • NC State
    • North Carolina
    • All Politics
    • The North Carolina Influencer Series
    • State Politics
    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • PolitiFact
    • PolitiFact NC
    • Rob Christensen
    • Under the Dome
    • All Business
    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • Health Care
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Shop Talk
    • Stocks Center
    • Technology
    • All Living
    • Video Now
    • Best-Kept Secrets
    • Blogs
    • Celebrations
    • Comics
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Games and Puzzles
    • Home and Garden
    • Horoscopes
    • Mouthful
    • Past Times
    • Pets
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Video Now
    • Arts News
    • ArtsNow
    • Books
    • Contests
    • Dining
    • Entertainment
    • Games
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Television
    • On the Beat
    • Happiness is a Warm TV
    • All Opinion
    • Columnists
    • Dwane Powell
    • Editorials
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Letters
    • Opinion Shop Blog
    • Other Views
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

    • Advertise with us
    • Place Ad
    • Apartments
    • Cars
    • Homes
    • Jobs
    • Legals
    • Obits/In Memoriams
    • Weddings
    • Today's Daily Deal
    • Special Sections
    • Today's Circulars
    • Rewards
    • Photo Store
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Legals

Garner Cleveland: Sports

Massive turnaround has Mudcats in the race

By Mike Potter - Correspondent

    ORDER REPRINT →

August 08, 2013 01:46 PM

The Carolina Mudcats have executed one massive, unlikely turnaround over the past seven weeks.

David Wallace’s club finished its first half in last place in the Carolina League’s Southern Division, with a 22-48 record that was 18 ½ games behind the first-place Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Not only were the Mudcats the only Carolina League club that was never in the race once the season got cranked up, but it was the worst record in all of organized professional baseball.

But fast forward through late June and July, and the Mudcats’ record is unrecognizable.

Through their 9-5 victory in their series opener against the visiting Frederick Keys on Aug. 1, the Mudcats were 22-16 in the half and just half a game behind Myrtle Beach in the second-half standings. And if the season had stopped at that point – what with the second-place team from the second half getting in if the same team wins both halves – the Mudcats would be in the Mills Cup Playoffs.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

After a 5-4 win over the Potomac Nationals Tuesday, the Mudcats were 24-18 in the half and owned sole possession of first place in the division in the second-half standings.

“We’ve been playing well,” said first-year Carolina manager Wallace, who executed a similar though less dramatic turnaround with Lake County in the Midwest League last season. “We’ve been playing great defense, we’ve been pitching well and we’ve been getting timely hitting.

“We’ve just gotten better at everything. Our bullpen is better, and I think honestly it’s a matter of everything finally coming together. The things we’ve been working on all year are paying off. It’s a process and it takes time. But things are starting to happen for these guys.”

And he said it has been a total team effort.

“It’s hard to pinpoint one or two guys, and with each guy you can pick out a point where he’s improved,” Wallace said. “Whether it’s Joey Wendle on defense or Bryson Myles on offense, Tony Wolters on defense …

“(As for the pitchers) Rob Nixon, Owen Dew - those guys in the bullpen we’re relying heavily on now. Cody Anderson has been strong, Shawn Morimando has been very good and Nick Pasquale is throwing the ball well for us. Josh Martin and Louis Head – the list goes on and on.”

And it’s been happening lately without shortstop Francisco Lindor, the Indians’ first-round draft pick of last year who was called up to Double-A Akron on July 15. Wallace had said in the first half that Lindor, who played in the Carolina League-California League All-Star Game and then the Major League Futures Game, was probably the best player in the league.

Erik Gonzalez came up from Lake County as the Mudcats’ new regular shortstop on July 24, and the manager said he hasn’t missed a beat.

“Gonzalez has made as good of an impression as any kid can make in his first week,” Wallace said. “His professionalism, his play out on defense, his at-bats. All of it has been incredibly impressive.”

The Mudcats’ other first-round draft pick, center fielder Tyler Naquin from 2011, also played in the all-star game against the Cal Leaguers as did Anderson and Jerrud Sabourin.

“Whenever we get in those close games we’re getting the big hits that we weren’t getting,” said Naquin, who was the CL’s player of the week for July 22-28. “Pitching is coming all the way around, and when you put them both together with good defense you’ve always got a chance to win the ball game.”

Sabourin said simple persistence was key to the team’s improvement.

“I think we’ve just stayed consistent with our work ethic,” Sabourin said. “We knew this would turn around. Our defense, offense and pitching has been so much more consistent lately. The pitchers are getting the hitters out, and they’re doing it with good stuff.”

Nick Pasquale was named the Indians’ minor league player of the week for July 21-28.

“I’m feeling comfortable and being consistent and getting ahead of hitters,” Pasquale said. “We’re getting good run support and just pitching well as a staff.”

Wolters, who played in the league’s all-star game last season as an infielder, was converted to catcher in spring training.

“We just all stuck to our routine,” Wolters said. “We didn’t get all panicky about losing. Everyone kept their calm and just focused on getting better every day. At the end of the day, that’s what the minor leagues are all about. We’ve all been going hard. We’ve got a lot of energy, we wanted to win, and it’s all coming together now.”

Outfielder Jordan Smith has played in more Mudcats games this season than anyone, 109 out of the first 115.

“We’re winning close games,” Smith said. “And we’re helping our pitchers out with more run support. We just stayed positive, and that’s what (Wallace) and the coaching staff preached. We’ve turned it around and we’re enjoying winning.”

  Comments  

Videos

The heart and soul of Garner Football

Garner's Djimon Harris talks win over Cleveland

View More Video

Trending Stories

Hurricane Florence killed millions of chickens and turkeys. Now farmers are putting them to use.

February 16, 2019 08:29 AM

What to Watch on Sunday: An all-star tribute to Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special

February 17, 2019 07:00 AM

Bunch of jerks? Not the Hurricanes having fun

February 17, 2019 09:55 AM

Why UNC freshman Nassir Little did not return in the second half against Wake Forest

February 16, 2019 11:55 AM

How do you stop Zion Williamson? NC State just the latest to have no answer for the Duke star.

February 16, 2019 09:27 PM

Read Next

Greater Neuse River all-conference spring sports teams

High School Sports

Greater Neuse River all-conference spring sports teams

By J. Mike Blake

mblake@newsobserver.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

May 30, 2017 03:15 PM

The GNRC has announced its all-conference lists and player and coach of the year awards in baseball, softball, girls soccer, boys lacrosse, boys tennis, boys golf and track and field.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE GARNER CLEVELAND: SPORTS

In his 14th NBA season, Garner’s David West focusing more on winning than making money

Basketball

In his 14th NBA season, Garner’s David West focusing more on winning than making money

May 22, 2017 08:30 AM
Cleveland girls soccer’s run ends in third round at Northern Guilford

High School Sports

Cleveland girls soccer’s run ends in third round at Northern Guilford

May 18, 2017 09:58 AM
Orange holds off Cleveland softball, advances to 4th round for 1st time

High School Sports

Orange holds off Cleveland softball, advances to 4th round for 1st time

May 16, 2017 09:41 PM
Wake Christian softball digs the long ball – and sometimes the small ball

High School Sports

Wake Christian softball digs the long ball – and sometimes the small ball

May 15, 2017 11:57 AM
Cleveland softball edges Southwestern Randolph to earn third-round trip

High School Sports

Cleveland softball edges Southwestern Randolph to earn third-round trip

May 13, 2017 01:42 AM
Holly Springs softball blanks West Johnston in second round

High School Sports

Holly Springs softball blanks West Johnston in second round

May 12, 2017 11:18 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Raleigh News & Observer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Triangletoday.com
  • Legal Notices
Advertising
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Our Ads
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • N&O Store
  • N&O Photos
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Report News
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use


Back to Story