Good Things Come On Tues

Tuesdays at Howard Park have been special for the Cougars over the last 14 years.  

Tuesdays were also special for me as a kid because, like the Cougars, Tuesday nights had the best lineup. 

Here’s the 1978-1979 Tuesday Night All-Star Team:

Chachi - CF.  Chachi leading off because he had wheels and was a Battle of the Network Stars champ.

Fonzie - SS.  The coolest!  If he can jump a shark with a leather jacket, he can play shortstop.

Jonathan Hart - 1B.  Mr. H.  A self-made millionaire and quite a guy.

Richie - 3B.  No way we would let him shoot the game winning free throw but would have him at the hot corner.

Potsie - LF.  He can play as long as he doesn't invite Ralph Malph.

Lenny - RF.  He drives a beer truck - how can you go wrong?

Sqiggy - 2B.  Very annoying teammate but also works on the beer truck.

Carmine - P.  A dancer and fancy footwork on the mound.

Jack Tripper - EH.  Those klutzy moves were not fake so no fielding for him.

Monroe - C.  It would be Too Close for Comfort for him to play anywhere else.

Mork - SC.  Orkans age backwards and we need more youth.

Mr. Furley - Manager.  Always making faces at the umps.

Mr. and Mrs. Roper - Fans.  When not yelling at Stanley Mrs. Roper would be our loudest fan.

Pinky and Leather Tuscadero - Fans (Cougars need Cougars)

Tuesday has always been a night for the stars at hallowed Howard Park.  Let’s recap the last two weeks.  

 

Cougars vs ONG | 06.15.21

First Inning

Boom hit a too hard to handle single to 3B.  Kev went the same way with a liner to left for a double scoring Boom.  Rads singled to RF scoring Kev.  Martini had an infield hard single for first and second.  Joker doubled to left scoring Rads and Martini.  Jimmy singled in his dad on a triple that was almost a homer!

ONG two hits no runs.

Cougars 5  ONG 0

 

Second Inning

Pastor Ted doubled down the left field line.  A lefty Crawdaddy rocketed a shot for first and third.  Kev with a sac fly scoring Ted.  Charley flattened the ball for runners on first and second.  SRads singled to the right side to score Kev and moved CRads to 3B.  Two more runs

One for ONG.

Cougars 7  ONG 1

 

Third Inning

Joker doubled and Pastor singled for a lone tally.

ONG zip.

Cougars 8  ONG 1

 

Fourth Inning

Boom singled to right field.  Kev hit it to the right side moving Boom to third.  CRads singled to right to score Boom.  SRads single down 3B line but stranded.

ONG with one hit no runs.

Cougars 9  ONG 1

 

Fifth Inning

Cougars go down 1-2-3.  Pete had a single and was out at second trying to stretch it into a double.

ONG went the same way with 1-2-3 inning.

Cougars 9  ONG 1

 

Sixth Inning

Crawdaddy with another lefty liner to right.  Boom singled between SS and 3B for runners at first and third.  Charley tripled and for two ribbies and had the same fate as Jimmy and Pete going for the extra base.  Huge defensive props to ONG for making three incredible flawless plays in the game. 

Press play for a montage of aggressive fun outs.

 

ONG had a double and the runner eventually scored.

Cougars 11  ONG 2

 

Seventh Inning

JD and Joker singled but left on base.

ONG had a small rally and scored two.

Cougars win 11-4

 

Cougars vs Ready By Tuesday | 06.22.21

First Inning

RBT with two baserunners and one run.

Boom singled to center.  Kev popped one to right center for first and third.  CRads had a sac fly to score Boom and move Kev to second.  Rads punched one thru the middle to score Kev.  Fort, trying to catch up with Ev, hit a four-bagger to right for two RBIs.  Martini singled between SS and 3B and then stole second when the catcher tried to pick him off.  With Martini in scoring position JD laced a liner for an RBI.

Press play for Fort's four-bagger!

Cougars 5  RBT 1

 

Second Inning

RBT with one hit no runs.

Li’l Rads nailed an infield single.  Pastor Ted with a hit just over the infield Diamond Dave style.  Boom with a spectacular sliding single to load ‘em up.  Kev had an impressive twofer with an infield fly and a sac fly on the same play when Li’l Rads scored.  

Press play for Boom's spectacular safe slide!

 

Cougars 6  RBT 1

 

Third Inning

RBT one hit no runs.

Martini hit a beauty shot like Fort to right side with spin for a triple but we couldn’t plate him.  No runs.

Cougars 6  RBT 1

 

Fourth Inning

Two hits no runs for RBT.

Joker started with a shot to left and Jimmy had an infield hit for two Lipseys on the bases.  Pastor Ted, now paying royalties to the King, had another Diamond Dave special to score Joker. 

Cougars 7  RBT 1

 

Fifth inning

One hit no runs.

CRads shot up the middle but stranded.

Cougars 7  RBT 1

 

Sixth Inning

Ready by Tuesday realized what day it was and scored four runs.

Cougars down in order.

Cougars 7  RBT 5

 

Seventh Inning

One single for RBT and the Cougars closed it down.

Cougars win 7-5.

 

The Cougars have now played every team in the league and have a 7-2 record.  We are the only team to beat first place Miller Time and our only losses are against our second place cohorts, Tappers and Storm. 

 The all-star Cougars are as cool as The Fonz...at least we think so!

Go Cougars!

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GAME VIDEOS

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Green Light Go

Do you remember your Driver’s Ed class?  It was the IPDE Process, parallel parking, and 10 and 2. 

Times change.

Now it is the SIPDE Process, self-parking cars, and 9 and 3.

The first two changes, well, ok, I get it.  But, c’mon, 10 and 2 is alliterative, memorable and the winning score for the Cougars on Tuesday night.

With the Cougars prowling the top of the standings, it prompted this new road sign at warning Howard Park.

The Cougars raced to Howard Park on Tuesday to drive in runs and leave Tito’s in the rearview mirror.  

As the great Tommy Lasorda said, “Baseball is like driving, it’s the one who gets home safely that counts.”

Let’s put it in reverse and recap the victory.

First Inning

Charley drove the ball to left field and ran for a double like the accelerator was stuck but was stranded on the dirt.

Tito’s showed up with road rage and hit the first pitch for a homer.  Only one run allowed because Kev made a great sliding hand-over-hand catch in left field.

Cougars 0  Tito’s 1

Second Inning

Ev smashed a double up the middle, moved to third on a Fort fly, and was driven home by a single non-alcoholic Martini.

Tito’s scores zero because we have comprehensive insurance on the left side of the field.  CRads grabbed two lasered line shots at third base and Fort smoothly stopped a hard grounder in the hole and fired it to Li’l Rads for the third out.

Cougars 1  Tito’s 1

Third Inning

Freeway closed as the Cougars go down 1-2-3.

Tito’s was held to one hit because Martini survived a demolition derby on the mound and deftly fielded a couple high octane hits at his shins and chest.

Cougars 1  Tito’s 1

Fourth Inning

Boom lined a shot behind second base and in front of the centerfielder.   Typically, this would be a single and Boom would immediately get the red light to stop.  Instead, Boom went with the rolling left turn and skidded safely into second base.  Here, press play for the highlight:

 

Boom’s aggressive left turn reminded me of this video of Miranda from a couple years ago.  Miranda was given the red light to stop but, like Boom, went with the rolling turn.  Boom was safe.  Miranda was out.  She received a red light ticket in the mail.  Our deal was that I would pay the fine but also got full video rights of her aggressive right turn.  I knew it would come in handy someday.  Press play for the lowlight:

 

The Cougars are certainly turning a corner this season but be careful!  Not only is there video enforcement at Dempster and McCormick (as Miranda learned) but also at Howard Park.

With the green light still on, Kev took the wheel and singled down the left field line to plate Boom.  CRads hit the gas for a shot up the middle for first and second.  Rads cleared the intersection with a single for two ribbies.  Ev singled and was left on base.

Tito’s started with a couple hits.  Then with one out and runners on first and second, the batter hit a hard grounder to CRads at 3B who swiftly tagged third and fired to JD to complete the double play.  No defensive blind spots for our team.

Cougars 4  Tito’s 1

Fifth Inning

Martini led off with a liner to center.  JD singled to score Martini.  Joker into a fielder’s choice.  Jimmy lined a liner for two Lipseys on base.  Li’l Rads singled up the middle to score the Joker while Jimmy was left on base.  Cougars on cruise control and it started to look like a tailgate party with all the cheering pedestrians in the stands.

Tito’s had some engine failure.  No runs.

Cougars 7  Tito’s 1

Sixth Inning

Cougars came out fuel injected and running on all cylinders.  CRads and SRads back-to-back singles for first and third.  Ev singled to right scoring CRads.   Fort followed with another single to right to load ‘em up.  Martini had a sac fly to score SRads.   The Cougars circled the bases like we were stuck in a roundabout.

Tito’s running out of gas.

Cougars 9  Tito’s 1

Seventh Inning

The horsepower continued with singles by Jimmy and Li’l Rads for first and third.  Crawdaddy had a sac fly to score Jimmy.  During the game Pastor Ted made so many tallies in the scorebook, it was like he was playing the license plate game on a road trip

Tito’s tried to get jumpstarted, scored one but their charge ended.

Cougars 10  Tito’s  2   

The Cougars may get old but winning never does.  We play like a 15-year old kid who used to sneak out his parents’ Corvette for a wild joy ride (we’ll save that story for another victory).

Go Cougars!  

Cougars Are All Business

What a season so far!  You wouldn’t know that though, right?  While we were silent online, the Cougars were noisy on the sidelines and between the lines.

We won our first four and dropped our last two.  

A strong start and the Cougars are near the top of the standings.

This blog is all business to recap the fun on the field.  

Six games.  Six recaps.

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Cougars 14 Shack 13 | Game 1 | 04.27.21

Opening Day win over our longest and biggest rival.

Click here for the blog: The Survivalry

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Cougars 16 vs Pitches 11 | Game 2 | 05.04.21

The boxscore tells the story ... team teeming with highlights! 

A coaching lowlight and a running highlight.  Ev was on first and Captain Cougar, thinking there were two outs, sent him sprinting on a fly ball.  Evan made it past second base before the ball was caught.  The screams from the Cougars and Cougar Nation told Ev to get back and he had to touch second before heading back to first base.  He almost made it!  

Video Highlight:  Evan scrambles back to first base. 

(press play for the highlight)

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Cougars 9 vs Miller Time 7 | Game 3 | 05.11.21

Our second win in 14 years over Miller Time.

First Inning

Rads singled but left on base.

Miller Time had a single and left on base.

Cougars 0  Miller Time 0

Second Inning

Big inning of station to station ball for the Cougars.  Ev singed a liner up the middle, Martini walked, and JD scorched a shot up the middle to load the bases.  Li’l Rads singled to score Ev.   Bases still loaded.  Pastor shot the ball between SS and 3B to score Martini.  Bases remained loaded.  Crawdaddy had an infield single scoring JD.  Bases all packed.  Kev shot the ball to LF to score Bobi.  Sacks still packed.  CRads walked to score Pastor.  Bags loaded.  SRads had a sacrifice fly to score Patrick.

Miller Time down 1-2-3.

Cougars 6  Miller Time 0

Third Inning

Both teams down 1-2-3.

Cougars 6  Miller Time 0

Fourth Inning

Pastor Ted and Crawdaddy had hits but left on base.

Miller plated one.

Cougars 6  Miller Time 1

 

Fifth Inning

CRads walked and scored on a Fort single.  Ev singled for runners on first and second.  Martini knocked in both Forts.  JD singled and was stranded.  Three more for the Cougars.

Miller Time scored three times.

Cougars 9  Miller Time 4

Sixth Inning

Cougars down 1-2-3 quickly.

Miller time scored three quickly.

Cougars 9  Miller Time 7

Seventh Inning

Cougar bats quiet with another 1-2-3 inning at the plate.

Cougars quieted Miller Time bats with a 1-2-3 inning in the field.

Cougars 9  Miller Time 7

Postgame

What was a bigger highlight - the big victory or JOx showing up to the postgame?!?

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Cougars 21 vs The UBAA 7 | Game 4 | May 18

Scorebook, videos and a picture can tell the story for this game.  

In the fourth inning CRads launched a three run homer, which was his second home run of the year.

Video Highlight:  CRads with a 3-run homer!

(press play for the highlight)

 

Later that inning, Ev blasted a three run homer, which was the first of his career!  Four games into his Cougar career and Ev has never lost, has beat both Chicken Shack and Miller Time, and smashed his first homer.  Unreal.

Video Highlight:  Ev with his first Cougar homer!

(press play for the highlight)

 

Here's another fun highlight.  Charley smashed the ball to left center and with a huge turn got caught Martini-like between first and second.  As the defense tried to get CRads in a rundown, he yelled for Boom to run home.  It was like he yelled squirrel!!!  The defense threw the ball home as Boom slid safely headfirst into home while CRads sprinted to third.

Video Highlight:  Boom and CRads make offense happen!  

(press play for the highlight)

  

Postgame celebration.

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Cougars 4 vs Storm 12 | Game 5 | 05.25.21

Lost to the defending champs.  We sprinkled four runs and the Storm reigned with 12.

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Cougars 4 vs Tappers 6 | Game 6 | June 1

A top opponent, a well-played game, and a tough loss.  Highlights:

• Boom had a single and and caught everything in CF.
• CRads had solid hands at 3B, started a double play and singled.
• SRads had a single and a run.
• Fort made perfect plays at SS.
• Ev had a single and was the key in two double plays.
• Martini had a RBI single and let up the lowest run total of the season.
• JD fielded an active and demanding right field with ease.
• Six months from 60 and Joker was 2-2 with single and a sliding triple and run.
• Jimmy knocked his dad in for an RBI.
• Bobi singled and scored.
• Li’l Rads had perfect paws at first base.
• Crawdaddy was 2-2 with an RBI. 

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Game Videos

Cougars 16 vs Pitches 11 | Game 2 | 05.04.21

 

 Cougars 9 vs Miller Time 7 | Game 3 | 05.11.21

   

 Cougars 21 vs The UBAA 7 | Game 4 | May 18

   

 

Cougars 4 vs Storm 12 | Game 5 | 05.25.21

No video. 

 Cougars 4 vs Tappers 6 | Game 6 | June 1