Cougars Swing Into Action

By Ted Waddell
MOUNTAINDALE — June 13, 2000 -- With Friday night’s 9-5 win over the Capitales de Quebec at Baxter Stadium, the hometeam Catskill Cougars finally started to get into the swing of things as their formerly rather slumbering bats woke up and decided to turn into serious lumber as they scored three runs in the third and seventh innings.
In the bottom of the first, Tony Darden homered, but Brian DuBose was left stranded after walking and advancing to second on a balk.
Guye Senjem singled in the second inning. Ben Utting singled and advanced to second, as Senjem took third and later scored on a base hit by John Darjean to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the third, the team from Quebec scored their first run of the game after Brent Iddon gave up walks to Brandon Evans and Dumas.
Evans scored on an RBI single by Ryan Kane.
The Cougars made it a 5-1 ballgame by picking up three runs in the bottom of the third. Darden led off the frame with a double. Gavin Fingleson singled and advanced to second on an error by the center fielder and Darden scored on the play. A double by DuBose sent Fingleson across the plate.
DuBose advanced to third as Mike Marchiano flied out to first. He scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Ryan Pond.
Following a scoreless fourth frame, the Cougars picked up a run in the bottom of the fifth. Darden reached on an error at third base. Fingleson reached on a fielder’s choice, but Darden was tagged out at second.
Fingleson advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a base hit by Marchiano to make it a 6-1 ballgame.
After a runless sixth, both teams added three runs to their scorebooks in the seventh frame.
In the top of the seventh, Evans singled and Dumas walked. After Jason Clark struck out, Evans stole second and Dumas pilfered third. A double by Julien Lepine scored Dumas and Evans. A base hit by David Kennedy then sent Lepine home.
In the bottom of the seventh, the hometeam made it a 9-4 ballgame by racking up a trio of runs. Darden singled and advanced to second on an error by the rightfielder. Fingleson singled, and Darden advanced to third. An RBI base hit by DuBose scored Darden and advanced Fingleson the third.
After Quebec’s Mike Sanchez relieved Luis Ramos on the mound, DuBose advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ron Johnson and Senjem got free trips to the bag on back-to-back walks. After the RBI, Johnson advanced to second, and DuBose moved over to third which scored Fingleson.
Utting reached on an error at second and Senjem advanced to second. Johnson advanced to third and DuBose scored an unearned run. The hometeam left three men stranded on base.
In the top of the eighth, the Capitales closed out the scoring by picking up the final run of the game. Giancarlo Di Prima singled and advanced to second on an error in rightfield. He scored from third on a sacrifice RBI by Evans.
“I think we’re progressing pretty well, considering that for ten days we were washed out during mini-camp,” said Cougars’ Manager Dan Shwam. “Our guys are coming around little by little as time goes on.”
Unfortunately for Shwam and the Cougars, they could not continue their winning ways on Saturday evening as Quebec (6-8) grabbed a 4-2 victory.
Sunday evening’s game between the teams was rained out. It will be made up as part of a June 27 doubleheader when the Cougars visit Quebec.
Catskill (6-7) now plays host to the Allentown Ambassadors in a three game series that begins tonight at 7:05 p.m.