Let’s go back to 1987— picture a Trapper Keeper, feathered hair and the grand tradition of split senior portraits.
Studios like Olan Mills and Stuart Rogers made their business selling that contrast, that cheesiness, that polished identity all in one awesome and awful collage.
You know the ones: on the left, you lean into your best serious gaze but instead look dazed. On the right, you flashed that big smile as the Olan Mills studio speakers blared The Outfield singing, “Josie’s on a vacation far away…”
It was our version of today’s Meet‑Cute photography: two faces, two moods, one glossy print.
Here, see what I mean?
Check out that 1987 dual-portrait magic! It’s peak 1980’s pageantry.
Let’s zero in on that suit and matching tie. It’s a classic 80’s statement in fabric form. The jacket’s cut is boxy, shoulders softly padded, creating that broad-shouldered silhouette every teenager desired.
That white cloth, flecked with black, feels almost like faux-marble brought to life—the kind of polyester triumph that Michelangelo would have sculpted in that era.
Fast forward to 2025 and it might seem a little ridiculous—but back then, the dual pose was everything.
Over the last two Tuesdays, the Cougars were a split portrait. The left shot was me stunned and stupified two weeks ago and the right shot was me elated and ecstatic last week.
Two completely different stories unfolding at Howard Park, just like those two expressions captured in a single frame at Thornwood High School.
Cougars vs Storm
Ev led off the game with a bolt—a solo home run that briefly electrified the atmosphere. But that lone spark couldn’t hold against the Storm, our league’s reigning champs, who calmly answered with 11 runs and never let momentum slip. We moved through the rest of the game with composure, but the scoreboard left no doubts.
Storm 11 Cougars 1
Cougars vs Vlong
1st Inning
Ev set the tone early for the Cougar defense with a sharp grounder and throw to Pekar for the out. Eddy silenced the next batter with a routine fly. Then CharleyRads cut the energy of Vlong’s rally, snagging a searing liner at third, tilting the momentum in our favor.
On offense, Ev started us off by dropping a looping single into right. CharleyRads’s infield single moved men to first and third. Pekar took a walk, loading the bases. Fort punched an RBI single, followed by Eddy’s frozen rope to right-center for a two-run single.
Cougars 3 Vlong 0
2nd Inning
Eddy posted two more fly out catches, a single crept through the infield and the inning closed with a CharleyRads to Pekar groundout.
Boom walked and Kyle had himself a day in his first-ever 16-Inch game by smashing an infield single in his debut at-bat but we couldn’t break through.
Cougars 3 Vlong 03rd Inning
CharleyRads made quick work of a grounder to start the frame. Vlong got one hit and the next batter charged a line shot to Ev, who made the catch. His laser throw to Pekar turned a potential rally into a double play.
On offense, Kev lined one to left-center. Ev and CharleyRads followed with singles, and Pekar pushed in a fourth run.
Cougars 4 Vlong 04th Inning
Vlong scratched out a spinner single. The next batter smashed the Clincher up the middle and Big Ball Jimmy transformed a chopper into a sensational double-play by tagging second and firing to Pekar at first. Martini then ended the inning by forcing a foul-strikeout with a beauty of a ball.
Eddy and Jimmy provided back-to-back singles. Boom hustled an infield knock to load the bases—but we couldn’t score.
Cougars 4 Vlong 0
5th Inning
Another leadoff single for Vlong, but we got three quick outs by way of a sweet Fort to Pekar forceout and two clean third to first plays from CharleyRads.
Ev walked. CharleyRads hit a single—runners on first and third with two outs. But the inning ended quietly.
Cougars 4 Vlong 0
6th Inning
Vlong started with a hit but Martini responded from the mound by starting a 1–4–3 double play. One more single followed, but a pop-up to Martini closed the frame.
The Cougars needed more runs and we started strong with Eddy reaching on a grounder single. Jimmy followed with the same and because of a throwing error, Big Ball Jimmy moved to second and Eddy scored. Boom then nailed a line shot to right-center for another run.
Cougars 6 Vlong 0
7th Inning
Pekar scooped a grounder and tossed to a racing Martini at first. Vlong notched a single but a foul-out and grounder fielded by Martini ended the game. Crawdaddy called a great game from behind the plate and Martini and the defense did not allow a runner past second base the entire game. No more at-bats needed—victory sealed.
Cougars win 6-0!
Two weeks and two halves: the stunned stare after the slip-up and the sensational smile after the shutout.
Similar to that old-school portrait, the Cougars showed two faces—one reflective and one triumphant. And like that split portrait, it takes both the stumble and the surge to complete the picture. As we head into the second half of the season, every win and loss fills in the portrait of a team chasing a championship.
It’s time to man up! We are the City of Big Shoulders so strap on those shoulderpads!
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| Trouter has been ready since the early 80’s with his shoulderpads! |
Go Cougars!
Results
Schedule
Standings
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