The Cougars gave themselves and their
fans plenty to cheer about as they waited until their last at-bat to score the winning runs in both of their games on
the way to a sectional championship at Bridgeport.
On Friday, wet grounds at Bridgeport forced the game to be moved to Flora where
the Cougars pushed across their only two runs of the game in the bottom of the seventh to slip past rival Louisville North
Clay 2-1.
The Cougars' Tanner Bushue and Cardinal freshman Dylan McKnally were locked
in a pitcher's dual until the sixth when North Clay scored their only run on a one-out walk, a fielder's choice, and an infield
single.
But the never-say-die Cougars roared back in their last at-bat as Shane Donoho
and Justin Armstrong put themselves at first and third with back-to-back singles to get things going.
Isaac Grapperhaus then stepped to the dish and rifled a 3-1 offering past third
to tie the score. With runners now at first and second, Ryan Gesell laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move them up.
Kyle Monical ended the game when his swinging bunt was thrown past first base
and rolled down the right-field line.
On Saturday morning, the Cougars made the long trek to Bridgeport, but it was
worth the trip as they shocked the Edwards County Lions by scoring four runs in the bottom of seventh to steal an 8-7 victory.
Down 7-4 entering the last frame, Tyler Gillet led off the inning with a single
before Bushue and Donoho walked to load the bases. After a Lions pitching change, Justin Armstrong lofted a sacrifice fly
to left to score the first run, then a wild pitch allowed the runners to move up a base to second and third.
Just like he did the day before, Grapperhaus singled sharply between third
and short and the game was tied.
Dylan Sill followed with a line drive to right-center sending pinch runner
Seth Arnold all the way to third.
A botched squeeze play ended in a strikeout for out number two, but freshman
Cole Armstrong drove home the game winner when his line drive off the pitcher's foot ended up beyond the shortstop's reach
and no play could be made.
Starting and winning pitcher Ian King settled down after a rough first inning,
going the distance allowing all 7 runs on 5 hits, 6 walks, and 10 strikeouts.
The Cougars now advance to the Marion Supersectional on Monday where they play
Marissa at 6:00 PM. The winner will then advance to the state finals in Joliet on June 5th & 6th.
