Its really hard to win a game when you only get an infield hit, that could've been an error, and you have two runners get two third all game. The one hit was with one out in the ninth even. The Cougars would draw seven walks, and strikeout nine times in the 1-0 loss at Fort Wayne.
Luke Steidlmayer pitched into the sixth inning giving up nothing but four walks. He didnt allow a base runner untill the fourth inning. He was coming off injuries so he was on a pitch count. Vern Sterry and Ricky Steik then came on for the next two and two thirds innings of hitless ball. They would give up two walks.
Ryan Webb, pitched well. He had to get out of some jams and was able to. The one run in the game came in the first inning. Chris Kolkhorst led off with a walk. He then stole second base. One out later, Peter Ciofrone walked. The Wizards would then perform a double steal. Colt Morten then hit a liner into right for a sacrifice fly that would allow Kolkhorst to score. Tom Vincent then flew to center to end the inning.
In the second inning Webb, would get himself into some trouble. With two outs, Matt Bush grounded one to short. Shortstop Ryan Ruiz bobbled the ball then his throw was high, it was ruled an infield single. Yordany Ramirez then hit one back to Webb. Webb then threw the ball at the tarp along the line. The ball would get caught in the tarp. Bush would get to third and Ramirez went to second. Kolkhorst then lined out to short to end the inning.
In the third inning a one out single would be erased on an inning ending double play. In the fourth with one out, Lachlan Dale walked. Sean Kazmar then doubled to center, Dale tried to score. Herrera threw to Ruiz who threw home to catcher Travis Chapman, there was a collision at home plate. Chapman held on for the out. Bush then popped out to second to end the inning.
With one out in the fifth, Kolkhorst singled to center. One out later, Ciofrone singled to right. Colt Morton then reached on a fielder's choice, with Ciofrone being out at second to end the inning. Somehow the Cougars owuld get out of bases loaded trouble in the seventh inning.
Bush led off with a single to right. James Heuser then came on in relief of Webb. Ramirez would move Bush along with a sacrifice bunt. Kolkhorst then grounded one to third. Third baseman Myron Leslie got hte ball, and got Bush to make a mistake and end up getting caught between second and third for the second out. Kolkhorst then stole second base, for his third steal of the game. The first two pitches to Brett Dowdy were outside, then the Cougars intentionally walked him. Ciofrone would then walk which would load the bases. Heuser got Morton to pop up foul to first to wiggle out of the threat.
In the ninth Vincent led off with a double to right. The Cougars then brought in Connor Robertson. He would strike out, Lachlan Dale, Sean Kazmar and Matt Bush to get out of the inning.
The Cougars on the other hand were handcuffed offensivley. In the fourth, Nick Blasi led off with a walk. He was the Cougars first baserunner of the game. Blasi would steal second. Ruiz walked. Kevin Melillo hit a liner to center, in which Ramirez made a nice diving catch on. Eddie Kim then reached on a fielder's choice, with Ruiz being out at second, and Blasi getting to third. Leslie would then pop out to second to end the inning.
The next time the Cougars would threaten would be the sixth inning. Travis Chapman led off with a walk, he would get to second on a passed ball. Luckly the throw was into center, or else he would've been way gone. Blasi then walked. Ruiz moved the runners along with a bunt. The Wizards then made a pitching change, bringin in Vern Sterry to replace Steidlmayer. Melillo would walk to load the bases with only one out. Sterry would strike Kim out looking for the second out. Leslie popped out to second to end the inning.
A two out walk in the eighth would get the Cougars nowhere. With the no hitter still in tact in the ninth the Wizards went to their closer, Matt Varner. With one out, Leslie walked. Kory Wayment went in and pitch ran for him. Raul Padron would reach on the infield single/error. Wes Long then pitch ran for Padron. Tommy Everidge would pitch hit for Chalon Tietje. Everidge would strike out for the second out. Javier Herrera then came up, saw three pitches, foul off the first one, and swing through the last two, and the game would be over.
This is the second time the year the Cougars were one hit, with the only hit coming in the ninth. The last time was in Peoria, when Melillo got the only hit. Steidlmayer has seen the Cougars before. He is in his third season with the Wizards. He faced the Cougars in Fort Wayne on May 11th, 2003. He went 4.2+1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, L(0-4), 2 WP, 2 HB. The only Cougar who had faced him before was Kory Wayment, and he had gone 0-3, was hit by a pitch, scored a run, and struck out in that game.
Cougars
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Nick Blasi |
LF |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Ryan Ruiz |
SS |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Kevin Melillo |
2B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Eddie Kim |
1B |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Myron Leslie |
3B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Kory Wayment |
PR |
| Raul Padron |
DH |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Wes Long |
PR |
| Chalon Tietje |
RF |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Tommy Everidge |
PH |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Javier Herrera |
CF |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Travis Chapman |
C |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Wizards
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Chris Kolkhorst |
LF |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Brett Dowdy |
3B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Peter Ciofrone |
DH |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Colt Morton |
C |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Tom Vincent |
RF |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Lachlan Dale |
1B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Sean Kazmar |
2B |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Matt Bush |
SS |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Yordanny Ramirez |
CF |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
E-Webb, LOB-Cougars-8, Wizards-8, RLISP-Cougars-4, Wizards-8, 2B-Vincent, SACB-Ruiz, Ramirez, SACF-Morton, SB-Blasi, Kolkhorst 3, Ciofrone, DP-Morton (Webb)(5-4-3)
| Kane County |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Fort Wayne |
|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
X |
|
|
1 |
7 |
0 |
Cougars
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
S |
| Ryan Webb |
6+1 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
L (3-3) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
22 |
26 |
4 |
10 |
89 |
56 |
| James Heuser |
1+1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
24 |
11 |
| Connor Robertson |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
9 |
Wizards
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
S |
| Luke Steidlmayer |
5.1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
W (4-1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
20 |
5 |
6 |
83 |
46 |
| Vern Sterry |
1.2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
20 |
11 |
| Ricky Steik |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
16 |
9 |
| Matt Varner |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
SV (12) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
23 |
14 |
SO-Blasi, Melillo, Tietje, Everidge, Herrera 2, Chapman, Dale 3, Kazmar, Bush, Kc-Kim, BB-Blasi 2, Ruiz 2, Melillo, Leslie, Chapman, Kolkhorst, Ciofrone 2, Dale, IBB-Dowdy
Alumni News;
Joe Borowski is back with the Cubs after rehabbing in Iowa.
This Day In Cougars History (May 20th)
1995, In a duel between top pitching prospects, the Cougars Brent Billingsley and South Bend's John Patterson battle to a 2-2 tie throguth eight innings. The Cougars Nelson Lara allows South Bend two runs on three hits in the ninth as the Hawks beat the Cougars 4-2 in game one of a double header. The Cougars come back behind the pitching of David Townsend and Alex Morris to capture the second game 2-1.
Birthdays
Amaury Garcia, 2B (96)-75
Francisco (Paco) Ferrand, OF (99-02) 73
Joe Aversa, IF (97)-68
Note-Hey Cub fans, (WHAT HAPPEND!), the Sox won.
Book
Kane County Cougars
The book is available at amazon.com and bn.com
Websites
Voice of A Season Ticket Holder
http://malamut.net
Im a little behind as you've probly noticed, my laptop fried so im working off back up stuff right now. The website is up to date through 4/23/05
Malamut Sportscards
http://members.core.com/~malshere
Fort Wayne pocket and magnetic schedules
Thanks
David Malamut