Getting Better

Democrat Photo by Ted Waddell HE'S OUT: Cougar third baseman Tony Darden applies the tag to Peter DeYoung of Adirondack in Wednesday’s game.

Second Half of Season
Going Well for Cougars

By Ted Waddell
MOUNTAINDALE — July 21, 2000 – In Wednesday night’s second game of a three-game series against the Adirondack Lumberjacks, the home team Catskill Cougars pulled off their third consecutive victory, giving them a 3–2 record in the second half of the Northern League season.
On Sunday, the Cougars defeated the Albany Diamond Dogs 7-6 on the road, opened the four game home stand on Tuesday with a 4-1 win over the Lumberjacks, and took the second game 2-1 on Wednesday.
The home stand continues tonight with the start of a three-game series against the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs.
On Wednesday, the Lumberjacks logged a run in the third on a trio of base hits and a sacrifice RBI, but then ran out of timber.
The Cougars scored their first run in the fifth frame as Ryan Pond tripled and crossed the plate on a base hit by Gavin Fingleson.
In the eighth, the hosts scored an unearned run after Fingleson reached first with one out and advanced to second on an error when the ball bounced over the head of Adirondack center fielder Vernon Spearman.
Nelson Abreu then slashed a hot drive off the left field wall, scoring Fingleson with the winning run, but was tossed out at second trying to extend it into extra bases.
At the last minute, Cougar manager Dan Shwan sent Aaron Turnier to the mound as a replacement for scheduled started Jody Treadwell, who was temporarily sidelined with a sore elbow.
Turnier allowed one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out four. After Turnier walked two swatters with two outs in the sixth, Shwan brought in middle reliever Aaron Dinkel. He followed the miserly ways of his predecessor, and didn’t give up any runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Darren Fidge pitched a scoreless ninth frame for his tenth save, and second in two days.
In Wednesday’s outing, the Cougar’s outhit the Lumberjacks 10-8.
The Cougars recently had two players tabbed as Northern League All-Stars: catcher Guye Senjem (.321, 7 HR, 27 RBI) and right-handed pitcher John Challinor (6–1, 2.71 ERA).
Senjem is slated to be the starting catcher in the August 1 game between the league’s East and Central conferences at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, NJ.
The starters were selected by the league’s managers and media representatives where each team is located. The pitchers were chosen by each all-star team’s manager.