The Cougars used the long ball to power the offense and Tanner Bushue and Ian King combined on a no-hitter to to race past the Sandoval Blackhawks 12-0 in the semifinals of the South Central Regional.

 

Isaac Grapperhaus blasted the first round-tripper when he launched a two-strike curveball over the boards in left to give the Cougars a 3-run cushion in the bottom of the second. Later in the frame, Dylan Sill also dialed deep with a 3-run shot of his own.

 

Then in the fourth, Shane Donoho and Ryan Gesell turned the trick when they went back-to-back with solo shots to lead off the inning.

 

Cole Armstrong had a big day at the plate as well as he cracked a pair of doubles and a triple and drove in three runs.

 

Bushue started and pitched the first inning striking out all three batters he faced before King came in and pitched no-hit ball in the second, third and fourth. Bushue returned in the fifth to finish off the Blackhawks and did so in convincing fashion by striking out three more consecutive batters to end the contest.

 

The Cougars now advance to the championship game on Saturday against the winner of Thursday's other semifinal game in which #2 seed Woodlawn battles #3 seed Waltonville. Game time is 11:00 AM.

 

 

Armstrong, C.....4 2 3  3 

King.....2 0 0  2 

Gillett.....1 1 0  0 

Bushue, T.....3 0 1  0 

Donoho.....2 2 1  1 

Sill.....1 2 1  3 

Grapperhaus.....3 1 1  2 

Armstrong, J.....3 1 1  0 

Monical.....2 2 2  0