Cougars Shock T-Town
Wrigley Field in Chicago's got nothing on the home of Cougars when the wind is blowing out and Monday's matchup
between the Cougars and the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes resembled Sunday's slugfest between the Cardinals and the Cubs on the
city's north side.
Both teams combined for eleven extra base hits, with four of them leaving the park for home runs, as
the Cougars outlasted the Wooden Shoes in a 9-8 slugfest at Lions Field.
Starting pitcher Marcus Hicks ran his record to 4-1 and Lance Schneider came on in the sixth to finish things
up to record his first save of the season.
Hicks allowed all eight runs (six earned) to the hot-hitting Shoes on eight hits, five walks, and two strikeouts.
Schneider gave up a base hit in the seventh and after a stolen base to put the tying run at second, he struck out the last
two batters he faced to end the game.
Offensively, the Cougars weren't to be outdone as they banged out eleven hits and took advantage of seven
free passes by the Wooden Shoe pitchers.
Down 2-0 after the first half inning, Wade Crain gave the Cougars a lift when he led off the game with a long
home run to left. Jayme Michel followed that up with a double and eventually scored on Nick Simmons' double over the centerfielder's
head to knot things up.
The Shoes scored three more times in their next two at-bats to make it 5-2, but Michel struck again when
he launched a solo shot over the boards in the third to cut the lead to two.
But the sixth is when the Cougars put on a fireworks display as they scored six times to take a 9-5 lead.
Will Crain and Michel roped back-to-back doubles to plate the first run and Tannner Bushue and Zac Cain both
walked to load the bases. After a pitching change, Nick Simmons lofted a sacrifice fly to plate another and Aaron Robb singled
to load things up again.
Shea Burton followed with a two-run double and after a pop-up on the infield for out number two, Wade Crain
was intentionally walked to fill the bases yet again.
Will Crain promptly delivered another RBI single to chase the Teutopolis relief pitcher and Michel then
walked to force in the Cougars final run.
The win pushes the Cougars record to 14-4 on the season and they will play again Wednesday when
the host the Effingham Flaming Hearts at 4:30 PM.
