7/20, Cougars 0, West Michigan 1 (10)

Great game by both the West Michigan Whitecaps and the Kane County Cougars. It remained scorless through nine and a half innings. The final would be a 1-0 Whitecaps win, but wow, a great game.

Casey Crsoby and Shawn Haviland started and both pitchers were great. Crosby, went five no hit innings, giving up two walks, while striking out eight Cougars. The Cougars really only had one good scoring chance off of him. In the third inning, Dusty Napoleon led off with a walk. One out later, Carlos Arrieche reached on a fielder's choice, Napoleon would be out at third on a nice play by the third baseman. Arrieche would be caught trying to steal second to end the inning.

Shawn Haviland got into a little more trouble than Crosby but was good. He went six innings, giving up three hits and three walks. He would strike out six. Haviland got into trouble right away, in the first inning, Brent Wyatt led off with a single to left, he would then get caught trying to steal second.

In the second inning, Haviland walked Billy Nowlin to lead things off. Jordan Lennerton then hit one to the wall in center that David Thomas caught. Bryan Pounds followed with a single to left. That would make it first and second with one out. Joe Bowen then lined to center and Avisail Garcia struck out to strand the runners.

The next time Haviland got into trouble would be the sixth. Brandon Douglas led off with a double down the left field line. Ben Guez then bunted him over to third with one out. Haviland would then jam Nowlin and get him to ground out to short, holding the runner at third. Lennerton then struck out to end the inning.

After that it was up to the bullpens the rest of the way. Josue Selenis came in and went two innings, giving up two hits and strike out one. In the seventh he got the first out, then Bowen singled to right. Garcia would then single to left. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Second and third with one out and no score. Hernan Perez popped up foul to third. Wyatt would ground out to second, with the pitcher covering to end the inning.

Meanwhile the Cougars really didn't get much going against reliever Anthony Shawler. He would go four innings and give up one hit, one walk and strike out three. He walked Thomas with two outs in the sixth, Thomas then was caught stealing second. In the seventh he gave up a one out single to Dusty Coleman. It would lead to nothing.

In the ninth inning, there was still no score. In the Cougars half they started hitting the ball hard. Carlos Arrieche almost had his first career homerun, the ball would be caught at the track in left. Thomas then lined one to left, Wyatt caught that on a dive. Leonardo Gil followed with a liner to short.

Justin Murray came in for the ninth. With one out, Pounds grounded one to short. The ball hopped up and Coleman knocked the ball down, and picked it up and threw to first. The throw was wild, and Napoleon wasn't able to keep his foot on the base. Coleman was charged with an error. Bowen then struck out. On a pitch out the Cougars would get Pounds trying to steal second to end the inning.

Murray came back out for the tenth. Garcia greated him with a single to short. Perez would pop up a bunt attempt, that Napoleon would dive and catch. Wyatt then singled to center. First and second one out. Murray would be able to get Douglas on strikes. Ben Guez then singled up the middle to drive home Garcia for the game winner.

Carlos Arrieche at second made a great play. He grabbed a grounder in the middle, he was heading towards left field. He flipped the ball to Coleman in his glove. Coleman then threw to first for the out.


Nino Leyja was takin out of the game yesterday after being spiked. He had stitches and is said to be out 10-14 days. Chris Berroa has a strained quad and is said to be out 7-10 days. This all leaves the Cougars with eight position players.



Wednesday vs Fort Wayne @6:30
Mike Watt (5-2, 3.86) vs Kenny Smalley (8-3, 2.15)