After getting a ton of hits and runs the last couple of games, it was about time, you just knew that chances were that they were not going to score that many runs.
The really good part is that the Cougars did not give up that many runs. They also didnt give up that many hits through the first part of the game.
Jason Ray started for the Cougars and pitched well. He left without giving up a run in the five and two thirds innings of work that he had. He retired the first eight he saw, Jose Vallejo reached in the third on an error.
The sixth was not a good inning for the Cougars as they would give up two unearned runs to the Clinton Lumberkings.
K.C. Herren led off with a walk. Herren was then caught trying to steal second. One out later, Matt Smith and Terry Blount walked. John Whittleman then reached on an error by firstbaseman Steve Kleen. On the play Smith scored and Blount went to third. The Cougars then brought in John Herrera. He would give up the first hit of the game for the Kings. Freddie Thon singled to left to score Blount.
For the Cougars, Jeff Baisley hit his third homer in the last two games. It was to lead off the second inning.
The Cougars had other chances to score. In the third inning, Anthony Recker led off with a single to right. Justin Sellers then walked. One out later, Blasi walked to load the bases. Frank Martinez then grounded one, the first baseman got the ball threw home for the force, then the catcher threw to first for the inning ending double play.
Clinton had a chance to put up some insurance runs before they actually did. It was in the seventh inning. Truan Mehl led off the inning with a single to right. Ben Crabtree then hit one off the mound or off of the foot or ankle of Herrera for a single. Herren then put down the bunt to move the runners along. The Cougars then brought in Ron Madej. Vallejo would hit one to third. The Cougars would get Mehl in a rundown and eventually tag him out. Madej then struck out Smith looking to get out of the jam.
The final two runs for the Lumberking came in the eighth inning. With one out, Whittleman tripled off the right centerfield wall. Thon was intentionally walked. A wild pitch would bring Whittleman home. One out later, Mehl singled to left to bring home Thon.
Omar Poveda started for the Kings and pitched very well. He is a 19 year old who had just joined Clinton that day.He pitched four and two thirds innings. Giving up two hits and one run. He walked two and struck out four. The one really good hit the Cougars had off of him was the Baisley homer. The other pitcher the Kings used was the son of former Cougar pitching coach Jim Coffman, Broc Coffman. He was supposed to be the starter in todays game but came in relief instead. He pitched four and one thirds innings, very well. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out six.
Cougars
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Mike Massaro |
CF |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Nick Blasi |
LF |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Frank Martinez |
2B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Jeff Baisley |
DH |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Steve Kleen |
1B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Wes Long |
3B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Jeff Bieker |
RF |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Anthony Recker |
C |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Justin Sellers |
SS |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Lumberkings
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Matt Smith |
SS |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Terry Blunt |
RF |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| John Whittleman |
3B |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Freddie Thon |
1B |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Brian Valichka |
C |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Truan Mehl |
CF |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| Ben Crabtree |
DH |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| K.C. Herren |
LF |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Jose Vallejo |
2B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Kane County |
|
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
1 |
3 |
2 |
| Clinton |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
0 |
2 |
X |
|
|
4 |
5 |
0 |
Cougars
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
S |
| Jason Ray |
5.2+3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
L (0-1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
21 |
7 |
2 |
81 |
48 |
| John Herrera |
0.2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
12 |
| Ron Madej |
0.2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
5 |
| Steve Sharpe |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
ND |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
20 |
Lumberkings
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
S |
| Omar Poveda |
4.2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
17 |
7 |
2 |
65 |
40 |
| Broc Coffman |
4.1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
W (2-0) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
14 |
2 |
3 |
62 |
39 |
IBB-Thon (Sharpe), K-Massaro, Martinez 2, Recker, Blount, Whittleman, Valichka 2, Mehl, Crabtree 3, Herren, Kc-Baisley 2, Long, Bieker, Recker, Smith, Valichka, BB-Blasi, Martinez, Sellers, Smith, Blount, Herren
Notes-Well the renovations to Riverview stadium are awesome, they basically changed everything but the structural part of the stadium itself. The new boxseat are a lot beater than the older ones. The outfield is great. The deck in left is kool. The jumbo dogs are tasty. they need to get better buns but besides that add a little ketchup and some mustard and they are tastey.
I know Justin Whitehouse wasnt here when the Marlins were here, but it was weird seeing Justin singing along to former Cougar Rex Rundgren's fathers one hit song, between innings.
Thanks
David Malamut