A Bunch of Mugs and A Pitcher (5-1) waxed Cobra Kai (5-1) Thursday night, knocking off the defending champions, 2 to 1. The monumental win snaps Cobra Kai's 17-game winning streak and, more importantly, clinches the Mugs their second consecutive play-off appearance, legitimizing the team’s upper echelon status.

 

The Mugs used another total team effort, putting forth perhaps their most complete game of the season. Leadoff kicker Brian Pietryka-san began the game with a single and promptly moved to third on Lindsay Lauenstein-san’s league leading thirteenth consecutive hit. The reliable Jason Budden-san then stepped to the plate and confidently kicked Pietryka-san home for the game’s initial score. With the one run lead, the Mugs had successfully impaired Cobra Kai’s ‘strike first, strike hard, show no mercy’ motto. But the mark of a good team is one that responds to a challenge, and respond is exactly what Cobra Kai did, knotting the score at one in the bottom half of the first. A classic pitching duel between curveballer Mike Randolph-san and fastballer Bruce Armstrong ensued. The edge however, belonged to Randolph-san; he had the stellar Mug defense in support. A wise man once said, “Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.” The Mugs defense took this to heart, pulling out their ‘chopsticks’ and catching every fly that flew their way. Third base gold glove nominee Dave Packer-san connected with the sure handed Suketu Sonecha-san/Greg Berdzik-san combo for several 5-3 putouts throughout the game. Slick fielding Lauenstein-san showed off her range as well, throwing out a runner to suppress one of only two bases loaded threats the Mugs faced on the night.

 

Seeking an opportune time to strike, the Mug offense rose to the occasion in the top of the fourth. Hero Sabrina Truesdell-san led off the inning with a double, racing home to score the go ahead run on a Pietryka-san screamer down the first base line. The one run lead would prove to be all the Mugs would need, allowing them to emerge victorious and make Mr. Miyagi extremely proud.

 

The Mugs cap off the regular season next week when they pay their seasonal visit to Homeland Security. The team will attempt to clinch the Ropewalk Division title and capture a coveted first place seed. Game time is currently set for 8:30 PM on Latrobe’s Field #1, but is subject to change. Stay tuned!