Six runs and nine hits, that's a pretty good start to a season. The Cougars scored six runs in the first four innings. They would take the first game of the year 6-3 in front of a chilled crowd of 1,836.
Mike Massaro , Frank Martinez, and Justin Sellers all contribuated two hits apiece. Raul Padron had two runs batted in, in the first two innings without getting a hit.
Massaro started off the Cougar half of the first by reaching on a droped third strike/wild pitch, that went to the backstop. He then stole second base. One out later, he would get to third on a passed ball. Raul Padron then grounded one to first to drive Massaro home with the first run of the new year.
The Swing of the Quad Cities answered in the top of the second inning with a run of their own. Adam Rodgers led off with a double to left. He then went to third on a wild pitch. One out later, Wes Swackhammer singled up the middle to drive home Rodgers.
Jeff Bieker opened the bottom of the inning by reaching on a single to third. I thought it was an error, but oh well. Frank Martinez then doubled to right center to get Bieker to third. One out later, Justin Sellers singled to center to score both Bieker and Martinez. Massaro followed with a single to center to score Sellers. Nick Blasi would single to center to get Massaro to third. Padron came up an hit the first pitch he saw into center. Massaro would tag up and score on the sacrifice fly.
Daniel Nelson would hit a one out solo homer in the third inning to left field to bring the Swing within three runs.
In the fourth inning, Steve Kleen led off with a walk. Sellers then singled to right. Massaro would then double down the left field line to score Kleen. With runners on second and third and nobody out. Blasi lined to first. Padron grounded out to second. Jeff Baisley then popped out to center.
In the sixth inning with two outs, Rodgers doubled down the right field line for the Swing. Randy Roth then singled up the middle to drive home Rodgers.
The bullpen for the Cougars of Brad Davis and Steve Sharpe pitched three perfect innings. Trey Shields started for the Cougars and pitched well.
The Cougars had two other chances to score some runs in the game. In the fifth inning with one out, Bieker walked. Martinez then singled to center. Kleen walked to load the bases. Sellers then lined to center. The centerfielder Colby Rasmus threw Bieker out at the plate for a double play to end the inning.
In the seventh inning with one out Jose Pineda singled to center, then stole second. Bieker popped out and Martinez flew out to end the inning.
Steve Kleen made several great plays at first. Daniel Nelson's homer was his first professional home run. Steve Sharpe got his first professional save.
Swing
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Daniel Nelson |
SS |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Colby Rasmus |
CF |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| A.J. Van Slyke |
DH |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Adam Rodgers |
1B |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| Randy Roth |
3B |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Wes Swackhammer |
LF |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Brandon Yarborough |
C |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Charles Carter |
RF |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Calvin Hayes |
2B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Cougars
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Mike Massaro |
CF |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Nick Blasi |
LF |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Raul Padron |
C |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Jeff Baisley |
3B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Jose Pineda |
RF |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Jeff Bieker |
DH |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Frank Martinez |
2B |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| Steve Kleen |
1B |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Justin Sellers |
SS |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
LOB-QC-3, KC-7, RLISP-QC-0, KC-4, 2B-Rodgers 2, Massaro, Martinez, HR-Nelson (Shields), SACF-Padron, SB-Massaro, Pineda, DP-Sellers (8-2)
| Quad City |
|
|
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
0 |
| Kane County |
|
|
1 |
4 |
0 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
X |
|
|
6 |
9 |
0 |
Swing
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
S |
| Cory Meacham |
4 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
L (0-1) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
22 |
8 |
4 |
87 |
47 |
| Kyle Sadlowski |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
32 |
17 |
| Jeremy Zick |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
14 |
10 |
| Jon Mikrut |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
7 |
Cougars
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
S |
| Trey Shields |
6 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
W (1-0) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
24 |
10 |
5 |
80 |
49 |
| Brad Davis |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
19 |
11 |
| Steve Sharpe |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
SV (1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
12 |
9 |
PB-Yarborough, BB-Van Slyke, Baisley, Bieker, Kleen 2, K-Nelson, Roth, Swackhammer, Massaro, Sellers, Kc-Rasmus, Swackhammer, Massaro
A-1,836
T-2:19