On a crisp clear evening under the lights, the Cougars
opened up our 14th season against Chicken Shack.
The greatest and longest rivalry in the league had both
teams with slightly different looks with grizzled old veterans as well as
bright new youngsters.
Some of the names and faces may have changed over the years,
but when we play Shack, all the Cougars see is red.
Let’s get to the action!
First Inning
With Martini out, SRads took the mound with spirit.
Maybe too much. The Cougars got the leadoff hitter with a quick out and
then Shackers took the early lead with three singles, one tally, and two left
on base. After the inning, CRads told an amped up Captain Cougar to cool
it on the chirping.
Good call. Action not words. We always start
with a Boom, and he laced a liner to center to start our offense. Kev was
next and beat out an infield single with Boom racing to third. CRads
crushed a shot to center scoring Boom. With no outs and Cougars on second
and third, SRads bounced one to the right side easily scoring Kev and a speedy sliding
CRads scoring from second. Fort and JD had back-to-back, hard-to-handle
singles putting Cougars on first and third where they remained.
Cougars 3 Shack 1
Second Inning
Shack got a couple hits but no runs. Martini would be
proud.
For the Cougars, Evan led off the bottom of the second. Wait, what? Evan? Evan Fortier? This handsome little chap?
Yep, that’s right. Many kids dream of being an MLB player, but the real dream is being a Cougar! Ev is proof that the Cougars don’t rebuild. We reload!
Welcome to the team Evan!
The Cougars plated another three with singles by Crawdaddy
and Boom and a walk by CRads. With the bases loaded and two outs, SRads
hit a ball to left center clearing the bases and ending with a headfirst slide
into third for a triple.
Cougars 6 Shack 1
Third Inning
In the third inning, Shack brought out the power of
three. Nine runs. They lit us up. They batted
around. All of them. The old cluckers and the spring chickens.
Whoo boy…that was rough. That was a long cruel inning that put Shack up
by four runs. Did you really think that the Shackers were going to let
the Cougars run away with this game? That’s not how the rivalry works,
friends.
After being battered around, the Cougars picked themselves
up off the dirt and picked up their bats. JD and Joker both beat the ball
to the left side and then Ev moved them both into scoring position with a
bouncer to the right side. With men on second and third, Crawdaddy hit a
shot down the third base line scoring JD and putting runners on first and
third. Boom then beat out an infield single scoring Joker.
Shack 10 Cougars 8
After the inning, Brad the Ump called both captains to home
plate to tell our teams to zip it with the arguing. He also said we were
moving like turtles on the field, pointing out that we were 30 minutes into the
game, the lights go off at 10PM, and it was only at the end of the third inning. Love this rivalry!
Fourth Inning
In the top of the frame, except for a hit, it was a 1-2-3
inning for Shack. Li’l Rads and Kev were defensive gamesavers all night
at 1B and LF.
In the bottom of the inning, the Cougars kept clawing
back. Rads, JD and Joker all singled to score two more and tie it all up.
Cougars 10 Shack 10
Fifth Inning
Both bunches bloodied, a break in the brutal battle as Shack
and Cougars both go down 1-2-3.
Cougars 10 Shack 10
Sixth Inning
All rested up, Shack scores one.
All rested up, Cougars score one on a CRads crushed hit that started as a hard liner in the infield and turned into a worm burner in the outfield. He raced around the bases in fast forward mode for a stand
up homer!
Cougars 11 Shack 11
It’s really turning into one of those games, isn’t it?
All tied up going into the last inning, it was past 10PM and over an hour of
game time. We were not only playing
against each other, but racing against the lights going off.
Ok, here we go…
Seventh Inning
Shack scores two to take the lead in the top of the last
inning. Shack up 13-11.
The Cougars have only one last inning come-from-behind
victory in our history. It was six years ago...against Shack.
JD led off the inning with a stand-up triple that was hit so
far it disappeared into the night sky. Joker singled to the left side
scoring JD and then took second on the throw. Ev came up and moved Joker,
the tying run, one base closer to home.
Two outs. Runner on third. Down by a run.
Pressure on. Crawdaddy, looking like Thor with his mighty muscles and
long locks, wielded his hammer at the plate. Using his superhuman
strength, he pounded the ball to left field for a stand up triple scoring Joker
to tie the game.
Top of the lineup up for the Cougars. Shack, not
wanting to see another Boom, gave him the intentional walk.
You know…the last time the Shack gave the Cougars an
intentional walk in the last inning of a close contest, our next batter hit the
game winning RBI. Diamond Dave was the hero that night six years
ago. Would it be déjà vu all over again?
With two outs and a man on third, we needed a line shot or
hard grounder. Kev stepped to the plate and swung the magic hammer. He
nailed the ball on the ground and with superhero speed beat the throw to first and
Crawdaddy scored the walk off winner.
Cougars 14 Chicken Shack 13
It was another knock-down-drag-out contest for the history books.
The Cougars survived this round, but we know the Shackers will be
ready for the rematch later this year.
The Cougars will be ready as well because Evan is determined to remain undefeated against Shack.
The unrelenting gladiator-like play during a contest between the Cougars and Chicken Shack makes it more than a rivalry. It's a survivalry.
Go Cougars!
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GAME VIDEO
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