Kane County Cougars at Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Thursday, May 9th, 2002
Fox Cities Stadium, Appleton, Wisconsin


The Cougars went out to a big six run lead, then gave all of that right back to the Rattlers in the seventh. The good news is that the Cougars kept their heads on straight and didn't panic too much, so they were able to push two runs across in the eight. They held on after giving up one of those runs in the bottom of the ninth for the win.

Ronald Belizario pitched well for the Cougars in only his second appearance and his first start for the Cougars. He pitched five innings. Ronald got into some trouble in all but the third inning with base runners, but was able to wiggle out of it without much damage. After giving up two runs in his first two innings, Ronald shut down the Rattlers in his last three innings. In those inning he gave up two hits and two walks. None of those runners would score.

John Skinner did a nice job out of the bullpen for the Cougars again. He came in with runners on in the seventh. Eventhough he threw a wild pitch that resulted in one of his inherited runners scoring, he faced five hitters and gave up one run. The only problem was that he was a little wild. He hit two Rattlers in a row to load the bases. He did finish the seventh by striking out Daniel Floyd. In the eighth he struck out two more.

Elvis DeJesus came in and got the save, on his 21st birthday. He gave up two hits and one run. Elvis did settle down to get a double play and the one run scored on the double play. He got Jeff Allena to ground out for the final out.

Jason Stokes continued his hot streak by going 3 for 4. He double twice, and drove home two. Jason also stole a base and scored twice. On the road trip, Jason put up some amazing numbers. He went 13-22 which is .590. Stokes drove home 10 runs, and he scored five runs.


In the fourth inning, Belizario did a nice job getting out of a jam that he created. Luis Oliveros led off with a fly out to center. Sean Peless then walked. He would advance to second on a wild pitch. Corey Freeman then reached on an infield single. Jason Rainey grounded out to Belizaio, on the play the runners moved along a base. Jeff Allena then walked to load the bases. Daniel Floyd hit one down the line to first, Jason Stokes dove and got to the ball, Stokes flipped to Belizario covering first for the out, to get out of the inning with no damage.


The scoring started in the bottom of the first for the Rattlers. With one out Shin-soo Choo singled up the middle, then stole second. Chris Collins grounded out to short, on the play Choo moved along to third. Greg Dobbs then singled past first baseman Jason Stokes to score Choo.

The Cougars almost did not score in the second inning, but a throwing error allowed them to score. Jason Stokes led things off with a double to right. Heath Kelly walked. On the third strike to Michael Tucker, Stokes tried to steal third, the throw wouldv'e got him. Third baseman Greg Dobbs couldn't get the ball and it rolled into left field. On the play Stokes would score.

With two outs in the second for the Rattlers they would break the one all tie. Jason Rainey doubled to left. Jeff Allena then blooped one over to right field, it droped fair. Rainey would score.

In the top of the third the Cougars would cross the plate again. Rex Rundgren led things off with a single to right. Charles Frazier doubled to left. On the play Rundgren was thrown out at third. Anthony Brewer then doubled to center, Frazier would make it to third. Scott Hicks grounded out to second, on the play Frazier would score to tie the game back up.

The Cougars would take the lead in the fourth with one out, Michael Tucker walked. George Arnott poped up to right. Dennis Anderson then hit a homer to allow Tucker to score.

More runs for the Cougars in the fifth when, Charles Frazier led off with a walk. Anthony Brewer then put down a sacrifice bunt to move Frazier along. Scott Hicks then singled past short stop Corey Freeman to drive home Frazier. The Rattlers then brought in a reliever. Heath Kelly then lined one into right to allow Hicks to score, and Stokes to get to third.

Another error by the Rattlers allowed the Cougars to score again. George Arnott walked to lead off the inning. He was balked over to second. Dennis Anderson grounded one over to first, the ball went through Sean Peless's legs for an error. On the play Arnott would score.

Adding more runs in the seventh the Cougars had some more insurance. With one out Jason Stokes walked. Heath Kelly then popped out to first. Michael Tucker doubled to center to score Stokes.

The Rattlers did attempt a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Jeff Allena led things off with a single to third. Daniel Floyd popped out ot right. Shin-soo Choo singled to right. Chris Collins then singled past Rundgren at short to bring home Allena. Gregg Dobbs walked to load the bases. Luis Oliveros then doubled down the third base line to bring home both Choo and Collins. The Midwest League leader in homers then came up to the plate, Sean Peless with the bases loaded. Peless grounded out to short. On the play Dobbs would score. John Skinner who had come in to replace Banks to face Peless, then threw a wild pitch. On the pitch Oliveros scored to make it a one run game. John Skinner then plunked both Corey Freeman an Jason Rainey back to back. Jeff Allena came up for his second time in the inning. Allena singled to center to bring home Freeman to tie the game. Skinner would strikeout Daniel Floyd to finally end the inning after six Rattlers would score.

THe Cougars did answer the Rattlers big inning by scoring a few of thier own. Charles Frazier singled to right. Anthony Brewerput down a sacrifice bunt, the pitcher couldn't get the ball, and Brewer was safe on the error. Ryan Ketchner the Rattlers pitcher, then threw a passed ball to move the runners along. Scott Hicks was intentionally walked to load the bases. Jason Stokes continued his hot hitting with a single up the middle to socre both Frazier and Brewer to break the eight all tie. Heath Kelly then put down a self deffense sacrifice bunt to move the runners up a base. The Rattler walked Michael Tucker intentionally to load the bases. George Arnott hit a fly to left, Scott Hicks tagged at third but was thrown out at home, he didn't bother to slide.

Wisconsin would not go away easy tonight, as in the bottom of the ninth they again came close. Luis Oliveros singled to center to led things off. Sean Peless singled to right. Corey Freeman walked to load the bases. Jason Rainey hit into a double play, Oliveros would score on the play to bring the Rattlers within one run. Jeff Allena grounded out to end the game.

Cougars
Name POS AB R H RBI
Charlie Frazier RF 5 3 2 0
Anthony Brewer CF 3 1 1 0
Scott Hicks LF 4 1 1 2
Jason Stokes 1B 4 2 3 2
Heath Kelly 2B 2 0 1 1
Michael Tucker 3B 3 1 1 1
George Arnott DH 3 1 0 0
Dennis Anderson C 4 1 1 2
Rex Rundgren SS 4 0 1 0
Rattlers
Name POS AB R H RBI
Daniel Floyd LF 5 0 0 0
Shin-soo Choo RF 5 2 2 0
Chris Collins DH 5 1 1 1
Greg Dobbs 3B 4 1 2 1
Luis Oliveros C 5 2 2 2
Sean Peless 1B 4 0 1 1
Corey Freeman SS 3 1 1 0
Jason Rainey CF 4 1 1 0
Jeff Allena 2B 4 1 3 2
E-Peless, Dobbs, LOB-Cougars-9, Rattlers-9, RLISP-Cougars-7, Rattlers-6, 2B-Frazier, Brewer, Stokes 2, Tucker, Oliveros, Rainey, Dobbs, HR-Anderson (Smith), RBI-Hicks 2, Stokes 2, Kelly, Tucker, Anderson 2, Collins, Dobbs, Oliveros 2, Peless, Allena 2, SACB-Brewer 2, Kelly, SB-Stokes, Choo, Allena, CS-Kelly, DP-Tucker (Smith)(1-6-3), Rainey (DeJesus)(4-6-3)
Kane County 0 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 0 10 11 0
Wisconsin 1 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 1 9 11 2
Cougars
Name IP H R ER BB SO Decison WP BK HB AB BF GB FB
Ronald Belizario 5 6 2 2 2 3 ND 1 0 0 21 23 6 5
Tyler Banks 1.1+4 4 5 5 1 1 ND 0 0 0 8 9 1 2
John Skinner 1.2 1 1 1 0 3 W (1-0) 1 0 0 6 8 1 1
Elvis DeJesus 1 2 1 1 1 0 SV (2) 0 0 0 4 5 2 0
Rattlers
Name IP H R ER BB SO Decison WP BK AB BF GB FB
Aaron Rowland-Smith 4.1+2 7 6 5 3 4 ND 0 0 0 17 21 4 2
Emiliano Fruto 2.1+3 2 2 1 3 0 ND 1 1 1 9 11 3 3
Ryan Ketchner 2.1 2 2 0 2 2 L (0-1) 0 0 0 7 11 2 2
WP-Belizario, Skinner, Fruto, HB-Freeman (Skinner), Rainey (Skinner), Arnott (Fruto)(, BK-Fruto, PB-Oliveros, IBB-Hicks, Tucker, SO-Frazier, Stokes, Tucker, Arnott, Rundgren 2, Floyd, Choo, Collins, Dobbs, Oliveros, Freeman 2, BB-Frazier, Hicks, Stokes, Kelly, Tucker 2, Arnott, Anderson, Dobbs, Peless, Freeman, Allena
A-2414
T-3:27
H-(53,494)(12), A-(49,313)(19), T-(102,807)(30)


Notes-this is the first time the Cougars have won a series away from home all year. DeJesus celebrated his 21 st birthday in a nice fashion by getting the save.


The Marlins made a couple of moves today
Nic Ungs went to Jupiter
Todd Moser (00) went on the disabled list for Jupiter
Wes McCrotty came to the Cougars
Quincy Foster was traded to the Expos (Harrisburg AA) for a player to be named later


This Day In Cougars History
5/9/94, After spotting the Peoria Chiefs an 8-0 lead in the 5th inning, The Cougars stage a big comeback that falls short as the Chiefs prevail 14-12. Billy McMillon leads the Cougars with a 3 run homer in the 5th and a two run homer in the 6th. It is the second night in a row that McMillon hits two homers.

5/9/01-Jim Kavourias @ Peoria, hit for the cylce, 4-5 HR, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R



Birthdays
Elvis DeJesus, P (02) 21


Alumni Report
San Diego 0, Florida 1
Hansel Izquierdo, 5 ip, 3 h, 0 r, 0 er, 3 bb, 2 k, W (1st ML Win)

Calgary 4, Omaha 2, G1
Derek Wathan-SS, 3-4, R
Matt Erickson-2B, 1-3, R
Nate Rolison-1B, 1-3, 2RBI, BB

Calgary 6, Omaha10, G2
Bobby Rodgers, 2.1 ip, 9 h, 7 r, 7 er, 2 bb, 4 k, L, HBP
HR-A. Guiel, K. Harvey (Rodgers)
Derek Wathan-SS, 1-4, 3 RBI, 2B, K
Kevin Hooper-2B, 1-4, K
Nate Rolison-1B, 1-4, K
Matt Erickson-3B, 2-4, 2R, RBI, K

Brevard County 6, Jupiter 3
Nick Ungs, 2.2 ip, 6 h, 4 r, 4 er, 3 bb, 4 k, L
Marc Sauer, 3 ip, 0 h, 0 r, 0 er, 0 bb, 1 k
Steve Sawyer, 2 ip, 2 h, 0 r, 0 er, 1 bb, 2 k, WP
Chip Ambres-CF, 2-4, 2B, R, BB, CS
Josh Willingham-1B, 1-2, 2B, 2 BB
Miguel Cabrera-3B, 0-3, SACF, RBI
Jim Kavourias-RF, 0-2, 2 BB, K
Will Smith-LF, 0-4, K
Josh Wilson-SS, 0-4
Matt DeMarco-2B, 2-4, 2B, RBI



Alumni Update

Brett Roneberg (98-99) (02-Portland-DL)
He went to a hand specialist in Miami a couple of weeks ago, and he did not tear the tendon in his hand, he just strained it. He will be beging exercises sometime soon and hopefully will be back playing by the all star break. Good Luck Roney!



Remember to vote for whom you think should've been the Cougars player and pitcher of the month for April on my website at members.core.com/~malshere
Only 4 more days to vote, and 4 more days till you can vote for who you think should be the May player and pitcher of the month.


Thanks
David Malamut