Cougars: The Cougars Emerge

Breathtaking Beauty of Howard Park

As the cicadas return to serenade Chicagoland after 17 years, so too the Cougars emerge to serenade Howard Park for our 17th season of softball. Much like the cicadas that are reemerging after a long slumber, the Cougars resurfaced with renewed vigor and enthusiasm. We are not the nymphs of 17 years ago.

First Inning

Like the cicadas evading early-season predators, the Cougars silenced our opponent. Despite having two baserunners, the Storm failed to score because of our hard-shelled defense.

The Cougars buzzed to life in our first at-bats. Charley started us off by pummeling the ball to right center and racing around the bases with a head-first slide for our first homer of the season. Fort’s liner to center was hit with perfect precision, Pekar eyed a walk, and Joker’s hit danced along the foul line, evading the third baseman’s grasp. With the bases loaded, Big Ball Jimmy hit a liner with absolute accuracy up the middle that brought in two runs. Boom’s infield hit and Hansen’s powerful shot to left added to our tally, leaving us with a resounding 5-0 lead. The Cougar faithful in the stands sounded like a cicada symphony.

Cougars 5 Storm 0

Second Inning

Storm managed to score one run, but we deftly escaped a bases-loaded jam. In the inning, Kev showed a spectacular display of agility and made a leaping catch over his shoulder and holding onto the ball as tenaciously as cicadas cling to tree bark.

Cougar crooning was silenced in the bottom of the inning.

Cougars 5 Storm 1

Third Inning

Storm scored three, including an over-the-fence homer.

We went down in order, experiencing a brief lull in our buzzing momentum.

Cougars 5 Storm 4

Fourth Inning

The Cougars held Storm 1-2-3.

Storm reciprocated, resulting in a quiet inning with no change in the score.

Cougars 5 Storm 4

Fifth Inning

Storm’s four runs, capped by a grand slam that cleared the ballpark fence and a neighbor’s fence, felt like a tempestuous onslaught. Just as cicadas emerge in overwhelming numbers, Storm’s top player was a force of nature unstoppable with nine ribbies in the contest.

In our half, Crawdaddy smashed a hit but his knee collapsed halfway to the bag and he somersaulted his way to first base for a tumbling hit. Lil Rads’ had a strong single to the left side and Kev’s screamer to left loaded the bases. Charley’s right-side hit brought in a run.

Cougars 6 Storm 8

Sixth Inning

Two hits but no runs for Storm.

Despite Pekar and Martini’s hits, we couldn’t tally any runs. A brief respite in the action before the finale.

Cougars 6 Storm 8

Seventh Inning

Storm poured three runs on us.

In the bottom of the inning, the sounds of Cougar Nation were akin to the crescendo of a cicada rallying cry. Boom’s line shot and Hanson’s single sparked hope. An injured Crawdaddy, batting lefty, hit a perfect grounder to the right side for a run. Lil Rads’ swinging bunt added another, but our rally ended there, concluding our valiant effort. Our cicada song faded.

Cougars 8 Storm 11

While the 17-year cicadas of Brood XIII emerged from their long underground wait, the Cougars didn’t brood for long after our loss. We left the park and re-emerged at the postgame, celebrating being on top of the hallowed grounds of Howard Park for another season.

Our 17-year tenure, the longest in the league, mirrors the cicadas’ prime-numbered endurance. Like the cicada, we also overwhelm the competition with our numbers, spirit, and sheer presence, ensuring our place in the league’s history.

Here’s to another season of the Cougars’ unstoppable, buzzing energy, echoing through the summer nights and beyond!

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HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

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