Cougars: A Night for the Ages

Cougars play on Flag Day at Howard Park

Tuesday was a night to score and celebrate some great numbers.

Our first score was Mother Nature leading us off with our greatest temperatures of the year. It was as hot as a right angle out there.

The Cougars scored again as we battled Chicken Shack to see which team was greater than the other. We got the victory and the > to prove they were not our equal last night.

Third, in threescore fashion, we celebrated 60 and the victory at The Fort.

Let’s recap the undefeated night.

It was a scorcher at Howard Park and the Cougars were seeing red across the field. It was our first matchup of the year with our longest and greatest rival, Chicken Shack. Having won two of the last three against our challenger, the Cougars are now coming-of-age.

1^st Inning

We had first raps, and Kev and Charley hit singles but we didn’t chart a run.

Our foe had only one hit and the Shackers moved their runner around the bases for the early lead.

Shack 1-0.

2^nd Inning

Ev led off with a firecracker that exploded off the pitcher’s shins to reach first base. Martini followed with a lasered liner up the middle for Cougars on first and second. Joker lit a fuse with an infield single and Ev raced home. The Green Machine was just starting the engine.

The Red Stead had one single no runs.

All tied up at 1.

3^rd Inning

Kev and Rads singled but were stranded on the squares.

The Shackers wanted some credit and started a charge in the third. After we got the first batter out, the top of the order came up for Shack. The top two batters singled with their biggest hitter walking to the plate. We were looking at some trouble…but then back-to-back defensive plays turned everything around for the Cougars.

Martini toed the rubber, leaped towards the plate, pump faked a pitch, then pivoted towards first and fired to Li’l Rads who clenched the Clincher and swiftly planted the tag on the baffled baserunner (with Brad's spirited call!)

With two outs and a runner on second, the big batter bashed a bouncing ball that Captain Cougar stopped with his chest and then underhanded it to Li’l Rads for the third out.

Charge declined!

Momentum and mojo activated!

Still tied up at 1 (not for long though).

4^th Inning

Sam led off the inning, took a mighty swing, and put the ball to the wall for a round-tripper to take the lead by one.

Ev lasered a liner to left, and JD had a worm-burner up the middle to put men on first and third. Martini worked a walk to load ‘em up and Joker smashed a sac fly to register another run.

CShack went down 1-2-3.

Cougars winning 3-1

5^th Inning

Teddy singled and traded spots with SRads on a fielder’s choice. Then Charley stepped in the box and crushed a crafty bomb to right field for a two-run homer.

Sam chopped and beat out an infield single and raced to second on a throwing error. Ev nailed the ball up the middle and traded spots with Sam for a score. JD had a big single to left center for another ribbie.

We quickly processed Chicken Shack 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.

Cougars with the 7-1 lead.

6^th Inning

Not acting their age, our sixty-somethings were doing it in the sixth! Joker punched a single to left center and Pastor Ted beat out an infield hit between SS and 3B. We stranded them. Younger decades were no aid.

Shack had one hit and one run.

Cougars up 7-2

7^th Inning

Charley singled to center but didn’t score.

Shack went down 1-2-3.

Cougars triumphant 7-2! Memories of this win will go on for ages.

When the game ended, we all hustled to the postgame at The Fort. There, we gorged and gulped on greatness.

A feast of greats!

After digesting the win, we got to the sweet part of the night.

We act like youngsters on Tuesdays, and we had a grand time celebrating the Cougars that have accumulated the most youth, Diamond, Pastor, Joker, and Philthy.