Cougars Whip North Clay
In Tourney Title Game
For the 10th straight year, the Cougars have captured the top prize in the Midland Trail Conference Tournament.
This time it came at the expense of the North Clay Cardinals as they clipped them by 6-0 final at Louisville's
City Park in front of a large crowd.
Tanner Bushue was the story in this one as he racked-up 19 strikeouts and clubbed a big 3-run homer in
the 4th to lead the way.
The Cougars got on the scoreboard first when Ryan Gesell and Tyler Gillett started the second inning off by
drawing back-to-back walks. Ian King then moved them up a base on a sac bunt before Shane Donoho coaxed another walk
from the Cardinals pitcher to load the bases.
Justin Armstrong then sent a deep fly ball to dead centerfield that nearly went for a grand slam, but
was caught right at the wall for a sac fly. North Clay then escaped the jam on a strikeout to end the inning with runners
at second and third.
Bushue continued to mow down the Cardinals as he recorded eleven strikeouts through the first four innngs
before the Cougars struck again.
Again, back-to-back walks started the inning as King and Donoho were both issued free passes and when a wild
pitch hit the backstop they both moved up a base.
King scored when Justin Armstrong sent a sharp grounder to short that was mishandled by the North Clay defense
and runners were now safe at first and second, still with nobody out.
Kyle Monical moved the runners with a sac bunt and Cole Armstong drove in the second run with a single to
left.
Up stepped Bushue with runners at the corners and with a 2-2 count, he drove a hanging curveball deep
into the night over the centerfield wall to give the Cougars a big six-run advantage.
Bushue then continued his dominance from the mound as he struck out eight more hitters over the next three
innings to close out the game.
On the night, he allowed just 3 hits and 3 walks to go along with his 19 strikeouts to run his fall
record to a perfect 6-0.
Congratulations Cougars on
another stellar season.
