8/7, Clinton 11, Cougars 2

Some days are just not your day, that is how it felt at the Cougars game tonight. They would lose 11-2, and really it felt worse than that by the end. THe worst part of it was the helpless feeling watching the Cougars give up five runs in the ninth, that really hurt to watch.

The Clinton Lumberkings got 15 hits and 11 runs, the Cougars two error did not help much. Anvioris Ramirez stated and went into the seventh inning, he would give up ten hits and six runs. Scott Deal pitched an inning and gave up five runs on four hits. Josue Selenis pitched great, he went an inning and two thirds, striking out three Kings.

The Cougars would score first in the first inning. With one out, Nino Leyja tripled to center. The centerfield dove for the ball and missed. Steve Parker then grounded out to second to score Leyja. The other Cougar run came in the fourth inning, Jeremy Barfield led off with a single to center. Tyler Ladendorf then singled to left. Petey Paramore would hit into a double play, Barfield made it to third. Franklin Hernandez then doubled down the left field line to score Barfield.

Those would be the only highlights for the Cougars on the night. Clinton scored two runs in the second inning and never really looked back. Blake Ochoa led off the inning by reaching on an infield single to short. One out later, Wellington Dotal lined one to the wall in left to score Ochoa. Leftfielder Franklin Hernandez broke in on first movement and had no chance to catch the ball after that initail move. Jake Shaffer then singled up the middle to score Dotel. In the third inning the Kings would score twice more. With two outs, Ian Bladergroen doubled to center. Blake Ochoa then homered to left. The ball made it over the fense without a problem, but Hernandez didn't see the ball off the bat orginally.

That is the way the game would stay untill the seventh inning when the Kings scored two more runs. With one out, Daniel Carroll reached on a bunt single to first. Kyle Seager then singled to center. Luis Nunez blooped one down the right field line to load the bases. Barfield mightve had a play on the ball, but it was really wet out there. Bladergroen then singled to right to score Carroll. The Cougars then brought in Selenis to replace Ramirez. Ochoa would hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Seager. Centerfielder Chris Berroa made a nice diving catch of the ball. Selenis would get Kris Sanchez on strikes to end the inning.

It was a nightmarish ninth inning for the Cougars and reliever Scott Deal. Daniel Carroll led off with a single up the middle. Seager then walked. Nunez bunted the runners over into scoring position. Bladergroen then blooped a double down the right field line to score both Carroll and Seager. Ochoa then singeld up the middle. Sanchez would then fly to right. Rightfielder Chris Berroa made a nice catch. Dotel then singled to center to score Bladergroen. Shaffer would bloop a single to left to score Ochoa. Shaver Hansen then reached on a fielder's choice. On the play shortstop Ladendorf got the ball behind second and tried to get the force out at second and threw the ball over Leonardo Gill's head. Dotel would score on the error. Finally Carroll would strike out looking to end the horror.

It was a weird game as the Cougars played musical fielders in the late innings. In the sixth inning Mike Spina was tossed from the game after a play at first. He had led off the inning with a walk. Barfield then lined one to second, the second baseman threw to first. From the pressbox it looked like Spina was out, he argued a little, then turned a walked away. After that the ump threw him out, then Steve Scarsone came and argued. That led to Carlos Arrieche played third. In the seventh inning the changes really started to have to happen. Jeremy Barfield was removed from the game. Arrieche went to center, Berroa moved to right, and Steve Parker moved into third. Dusty Napoleon came in to play first. A little later in the inning, Petey Paramore hurt a finger while catching and had to be removed from the game. That is when the musical chairs/fielder's got interesting. Leonardo Gil who was the designated hitter had to come in to play third. Parker moved back to first. Napoleon went behind the plate, and the Cougars lost the designated hitter.

In the ninth inning, Arrieche led off with a walk. Napoleon and Ladendorf then struck out. That brought out pitcher Scott Deal for his first professional at bat. He swing hard at the first two pitches and missed. Then he foulded the next two into the stands on the right side. He would then strike out swinging to end the game.


Tomorrow vs Clinton @6
Kenn Kasperek (8-5, 2.32) vs Mathieu Leblanc-Poirier (3-5, 4.46)


Tomorrow I will be doing an interview with Cougar pitcher Scott Deal before the game. If you are coming to the game, it is supposed to be in the low 90's tomorrow.

We had the annoying Myron Noddleman at the game tonight. He did one thing that was creative, During one of his between inning skits, he was dancing on top of the dugout, I don't remember the song or what it was. He was dancing then he pointed out to the Cougar bullpen area, the whole bullpen was out in right field in a line, dancing. Then after that he pointed towards the first base line. Both umpires were dancing. Plus there was a group of four or five Noddlemen look a likes on the third base side between home plate and the dugout. They got their picture taken with their idol. That reminds me of the night we had the 5 Myrons dancing the YMCA while draggin the infield about four or five years back.