Cougars End Season
With Loss To Trenton
The Cougars used a valient effort to get themselves back in the ballgame after making several mistakes
along the way, but it just wasn't enough as they lost a 10-5 decision to the Trenton Wesclin Warriors in the championship
game of the Kaskaskia Sectional championship game.
Behind 4-1 heading into their last at-bat, the Cougars fought back to tie the game and had a chance to put
it away, but a foiled suicide squeeze attempt put a damper on what could have been one of the most dramatic comebacks
ever.
Wade Crain led off the inning by drawing a walk and consecutive singles by Jayme Michel, Nick Simmons, and
Tanner Bushue produced two runs and got the Cougars within one.
With runners at first and second, Lance Schneider moved them over with a sacrifice bunt before Will Crain
was intetionally walked to load the bases and set up a force out or double play situation for the Trenton defense.
With the tying run now at third and the winning run at second, Aaron Robb laid down a perfect safety squeeze
bunt and after a near dazzling play by the Warriors' thirdbaseman, Simmons was ruled safe at the plate to tie the game.
With the bases still loaded and just one out, Zac Cain stepped to dish with Bushue just ninety feet away representing
the winning run.
After Cain ran the count to 1-1, the Cougars gambled again. This time it was the suicide squeeze bunt, but
the pitch ended up in the dirt preventing Cain from putting it in play and Bushue was caught between home and third in a rundown
for the second out.
On the next pitch, Cain flied out to right in what could have been a game-winner if not for the botched squeeze
attempt.
In the top half of the eighth, the wheels came completely off for the Cougars as Trenton racked up six runs
on an error, a pair of walks, and four hits to put the game out of reach.
Although the Cougars added another run in their last at-bat, it far too little too late to overcome the six-run
deficit.
Starting pitcher Lance Schneider was the tough-luck loser as he went 7 1/3 innings before giving way to Tanner
Bushue with one out in the eighth. Schneider allowed five runs (only two of them earned) on nine hits, three walks, and
two strikeouts.
It was a difficult loss to endure for the Cougars and their fans, but they still enjoyed a very successful
season by claiming a regional championship and finishing with an impressive 25-10-1 record.
