The Cougars scored all the runs they would need in their first two at-bats and Derek Harmeier turned in another stellar pitching performance as they handed Edwards County a 7-4 defeat in the first round of the Edwards County sectional.

 

Again, the defense was shaky behind him, but Harmeier pitched himself out of jam after jam. He stranded eight runners for the game and in six of the seven innings, he recorded one or more strikeouts to end the frames.

 

A second inning walk and a two-run homer were the only earned runs he surrendered and finished with 4 runs allowed, on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 13 strikeouts.

 

Offensively, the Cougars got big hits from a trio of players. In the first, a Cole Armstrong walk, a Kyle Monical single, and another walk issued to Tyler Gillett loaded the bases for Cougar cleanup hitter Dylan Sill.

 

After he was hit by a pitch to bring in the first run, Ryan Gesell laced a line drive to center to score two more.

 

In the second, the Cougars loaded the bases again on another Gillett walk and singles from Monical and Sill. After a one-out strikeout, Shane Donoho ripped a double to left-center for 2 RBI's, then Colby Bushue followed that up with a 2-run single to right.

 

After a pitching change by Edwards County in the third, the offense only managed one other base runner, but the pitching and defense managed to stave the Lions in the final four innings.

 

With the win, the Cougars now advance to their second straight sectional championship, which will be played on Saturday at Albion against the Patoka Warriors at 1:00 PM.

Armstrong.....3 1 0  0 

Monical.....4 2 2  0 

Gillett.....2 2 0  0 

Sill.....2 1 1  1 

Gesell.....3 0 1  2 

Donoho.....3 1 1  2 

Bushue.....2 0 1  2