For the third time in the last four years, the Cougars caputured the regional championship, this one coming at the expense of the Vandalia Vandals. The 6-0 victory sends the Cougars into Thursday's first round Greenville sectional game against the Carlinville Caveliers at 4:30 P.M.

The Cougars jumped on the scoreboard first when Jason Shirley blasted a two-out, solo home run in the 1st inning. Tyler Burns and Kevin Wilkins also singled in the inning, but were both thrown out on steal attmepts.

Another run crossed the plate in the 4th when Wilkins led off the inning with a screaming line drive double into the right-field corner and Brian Wodtka followed with an RBI single between short and 3rd.

While the Cougars had trouble putting anything significant together against Vandalia starter Josh Reams until the 6th, Jeremy Chasteen was even better as he allowed only 2 Vandal hits on the day. Just one batter made it past first base, that coming in the 7th on a lead-off double by Zach Schaeffer. Even more impressive was Chasteen's control, as he allowed no walks in his 7-inning masterpiece.

The Cougars finally put the game out of reach in the 6th when Wilkins walked, Wodtka picked-up his second single, and Nick Jones walked to load the bases. Up stepped Matt Wegener, and after fouling off several pitches, drove a 2-strike pitch into the right-centerfield gap to clear the bases.

Chasteen reached on the first Vandal error of the day, and with runners now at 1st and 3rd, Matt Hicks plated the 6th and final run with a sacrifice fly to center to score Wegener.

The Cougars were led offensively by Kevin Wilkins, Brian Wodtka, and Matt Wegener with 2 hits apiece and Jason Shirley made a big contribution with his solo homer in the 1st.

Chasteen ran his season record to 10-4 with the victory and the Cougar team now stands at 22-8. Congratulations Cougars and let's get ready for Carlinville on Thursday.