Cougars: THIS IS A TEST. THIS IS ONLY A TEST.

“This is a test. This station is conducting a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test."

Remember that graphic?

How about the video?

The Emergency Broadcast System played a vital role in providing emergency information to the public in the United States. The EBS also allowed for localized and state-level alerts like severe weather warnings.

Tuesday night the Cougars had a strong Storm on our radar and lost 10-7 in a competitive atmosphere.

The two-time champions have been a tornado since they joined the league, but we were not about to hide under our desks. We were not threatened by their reign.

The Cougars weathered the Storm. The Storm opened the floodgates in only two innings when they scored 9 of their 10 runs. They dried up in the other 5 innings. Over that span, our opponent only sprinkled 5 baserunners and 1 run.

The extended forecast looks good. The real test will be in the playoffs when it is high pressure.

Let’s recap metaphorically and meteorologically.

Kev was unreal catching comets in left field and cracking the Clincher in the batter’s box.
CRads fielded a hailstorm at the hot corner and ran the bases like a bolt of lightning.
Goose flew in and literally made the game ahead of the Storm. Slammin’ Sam had two hits and scored a run. His strong swings and throws create giant gusts of wind.
Eddy was a whirlwind in his 3-for-3 Cougar sub debut, and his lefty bat created mighty turbulence.
In his Cougar sub debut, Andy hit the ball to the stratosphere with a single, double, and a homer. He made a sweet over-the-shoulder catch at SS too. Here's the hurricane homer!

Martini’s high pitches were like raindrops from the sky with Doppler radar accuracy.
JD was a force of nature playing a versatile SC and scorching the sphere at the dish.
Joker continued to get soaked in the fountain of youth with a 3-for-3 performance.
Big Ball Jimmy deftly wielded his bat like an umbrella in a hurricane with an RBI single and a run scored.
Li’l Rads was a stormcatcher for sure. He chased down everything gusting in his direction.
Crawdaddy thundered two hits and created a sandstorm with terrific defense.
Cougar Nation was loud and proud. They love the Cougars and Like The Weather and acted like 10,000 Maniacs!

As the evening sun set, our team breezed to the postgame to celebrate under the stars.

After the Emergency Broadcast System test, the following message would be on the screen: "If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed to tune in to one of the broadcast stations in your area."

The regular season is just a test…a warmup. When the playoffs arrive, our opponents will experience a real emergency!

Sirens will be screaming when we are champions! No raining on our parade!

Let’s finish the blog with a big giant ray of sunshine-

Recently, Teddy has decided to retire as a full-time mechanic and ascend to full-time pastor. Pastor Ted has been turning a wrench so long that his first job was fixing Noah’s Ark. Okay, okay, not that long but it’s been 48 years strong. Now, Teddy is gonna trade fixing engines to fixing spirits.

He’s pretty giddy about this next big step and how it will help him grow as a pastor and a person.

Over the years, I have thought about Teddy’s two professions and their striking similarities…so I wrote a little poem.

Pastor Ted, the mechanic with tools in his hand,

Solved mysteries of engines, a master of the land.

He'd tinker and he'd toil, bringing vehicles to life,

Restoring their engines, freeing them from strife.

But when the sun finally set, a transformation took place,

Teddy became a pastor, a beacon of solace and grace.

His heart opened wide, his words like soothing balm,

He'd listen to their stories, bringing peace, healing, calm.

Like a mechanic, with the engines he'd mend,

Pastor Ted saw souls in need, their brokenness to tend.