Cougars Stumble Once;
Regroup With Three Straight
The Cougars were tripped-up on Wednesday with an 8-5 loss to Altamont, but bounced back to pound Dieterich
10-0 on Friday and then finished the weekend off by sweeping a pair of games from Putnam County by scores of 8-7 and
10-0.
On Wednesday, Altamont got a complete-game pitching performance from senior hurler Eric Heiden and their offense
came through with some timely hits as the Indians handed the Cougars their second loss of the season.
The Cougars did erupt for four second inning runs to take a 4-2 lead, but everything was downhill from there.
Some shoddy defense and poor decision-making in the field cost the Cougars dearly in this one, but they
still found themselves down by only one run going into the seventh.
After an error to lead-off the inning and a walk to the next hitter, Altamont catcher Curt Heiden then blasted
a 3-run homer to put the final nail in the coffin.
Marcus Hicks pitched only 2/3 of an inning, but was tagged with the loss to drop his record to 2-1.
On Friday, the Cougars notched their second conference win of the season with a convincing 10-0 five-inning
victory over the visiting Dieterich Movin' Maroons.
Starting pitcher Tanner Bushue went the distance upping his record to 2-1 allowing only two hits on two walks
and four strikeouts.
The Cougars jumped out to an early lead by scoring seven runs in their first three at-bats against Maroons
ace Tyler Campbell. Jayme Michel highlighted the uprising with a pair of RBI singles.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars loaded the bases with nobody out and Bushue cleared the bases and
ended the game with a ringing double to the gap in right-center.
On Saturday, the Putnam County Panthers came calling and the Cougars rudely greeted their guests with a doubleheader
sweep.
In game one, the Cougars scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh when Will Crain crossed
the plate on a wild pitch with the game tied at seven.
Wade Crain upped his record to 3-0 with a complete-game performance on the mound, allowing all seven runs
on seven hits, three walks, and five strikeouts.
The Panthers started the game swinging some big sticks as they blasted two solo homers to take an early
2-0 lead, but in the Cougars half of the inning, they responded by loading the bases for Devin Hall who promptly delivered
a long ball of his own to make the score 4-2.
Putnam County tied things up in the third, added a single tally in the fourth, and got another home run in
the sixth, this time a two-run shot, to up thier lead to 7-4.
But, the Cougars responded again. After a strikeout, a hit batsman, and a force out, Wade Crain singled for
the third time and Nick Simmons and Aaron Robb delivered with back-to-back doubles to knot the score.
After Crain set down the side in order in the seventh, the Cougars got after it again. They loaded the bases
on a pair of singles from Will Crain and Zac Cain before Luke Smith was hit by a pitch.
With the Panther outfield now playing shallow for a possible play at the plate, Jayme Michel rifled a line
shot to center that appeared to be a game-winner, but the centerfielder dove, caught the ball, and threw to second to double
off a Cougar baserunner to complete the strange twin-killing.
Now with runners at first and third and two outs, the Panther pitcher unleashed a wild pitch that scooted
to the backstop and Will Crain scampered home with the game-winner.
In game two, the Cougar offense scored in every inning and Will Crain picked-up his first win on the hill
in the 10-0 short-game affair.
Wade Crain, Nick Simmons, and Zac Cain led the hit parade with two hits each, while Aaron Robb and Will Crain
contributed with two RBI's apiece.
The Cougars return to action on Monday when they travel to T-Town to battle the Wooden Shoes at 7:00 PM.
