With the thought of last year's loss to the Indians in the championship game still lingering in their minds, the Cougars came out of the gate with a bang by scoring 2 runs in their first at-bat.

Tyler Burns started things off with a ringing double to the right-centerfield gap and after an infield out, Jason Shirley reached first when the Altamont catcher couldn't stop a strike three curveball in the dirt and it went to the backstop.

With runners now on first and third, Kevin Wilkins belted a long sacrifice fly to center to plate Burns from third and after designated runner Louis Daugherty stole second, Brian Wodtka followed with an RBI single to center.

The Cougars struck again in the second on singles by Jeremy Chasteen and Matt Hicks and when Burns' liner to center was misplayed, Chasteen scored from second. An infield single by Brock Adams loaded the bases and after a Cougar strikeout, Kevin Wilkins launched a long two-out home run to dead center to put the Cougars up 7-0.

Altamont finally plated two runs in the 3rd off Cougar starter Brian Wodtka and another in the fifth, but that's all they would get as Wodtka scattered the 8 hits he allowed in the 2 walk, 10 strikeout performance.

The Cougars tallied single runs in the 4th(RBI groundout by Adams) and the 5th(Altamont throwing error) to close out the scoring.

Leading the way offensively for the Cougars was Brock Adams and Matt Hicks with two hits apiece. Adams contributed an RBI and Kevin Wilkins totaled 5 RBI's with his sacrifice fly and grand slam. Burns(RBI), Shirley, Wodtka(RBI), and Chasteen also collected one hit each.

Vandalia upset #6 seeded Shelbyville 2-0 in the other semifinal game and the Cougars will face the Vandals for the championship on Monday at 4:30 P.M.