Cougars Just One Game Behind Elmira

By Justin Gottschalk
MOUNTAINDALE — August 18, 2000 – The Catskill Cougars are just a game out of first place after winning two of their last three this week.
At press time, Elmira led the Northern League’s Eastern Conference’s South Division with a 14–14 record while the Cougars’ mark was 13–15.
Here’s a rundown of the Cougars’ recent games:
Last Thursday’s 6-3 win against Les Capitales de Quebec featured a stellar pitching performance by Catskill relievers Aaron Dinkel, Chet Chambliss and Darren Fidge, who went a combined 31¦3, striking out four Quebec batters and walking none.
Starter Brent Iddon (4–3) got the victory after going 52¦3, allowing three earned runs. Catskill designated hitter Ron Johnson hit a three-run bomb in the first, catapulting the Cougars to an early 3-2 lead.
Center fielder Adam Burton’s RBI double in the second helped to seal the deal.
Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Jackals was rained out, and was played as part of a double header Sunday. Catskill split that doubleheader, winning the first game and losing the second.
Their win was due largely to timely hitting and mental errors on New Jersey’s part. With two out in the fifth, left fielder Nelson Abreu hit a two-run single, one of his two hits for the game. Jackals pitchers then proceeded to walk home three more runs, giving Catskill a 5-2 edge.
Centerfielder Adam Burton also had two hits for the day. Cougars closer Darren Fidge got the save, his 14th of the season.
Catskill lost the day’s second game by a score of 7-2. After going up 2-0 in the first on third baseman Gavin Fingleson’s two-run double, the Cougars were not able to muster any more offense.
Catskill finished up the series with the New Jersey Jackals with a 6-1 victory Monday.
The game saw Catskill jump out to an early lead with a solo homerun by designated hitter Tony Darden in the top of the first. They then scored in each of the first four innings, leading 5-0 by the fifth.
New Jersey managed one in the eighth against pitcher Jody Treadwell (6–3), who went eight innings, giving up just one run. Left fielder Nelson Abreu was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and shortstop Ben Utting was also 2-for-5, with 2 RBI.
The Cougars continued their winning ways Tuesday by taking the first game of their series with Adirondack, a 16-14 slugfest. Catskill sent 13 men to the plate in the first, scoring nine runs. Adirondack came back to take an 11-10 lead at the end of four.
But the Cougars were not to be denied, going ahead for good with three runs in the fifth, the big blow a two-run single by first baseman Rafael Martinez.
Right fielder Ricky Peel had four hits for the Cougars, and third baseman Gavin Fingleson had 4 RBI. Every starter on both teams had at least one hit.
Adirondack struck back on Wednesda, winning 8-1. After the Lumberjacks put up six runs in the second, hurler Chad Ward held Catskill to just seven hits and one run in 7 innings of work.
Second baseman Mario Deluca had two of those hits. Designated hitter Tony Darden had the sole RBI in the fourth.
Catskill’s loss, coupled with Elmira’s win over the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs, places the Cougars 1 back of the Pioneers.
Catskill finished up their series with Adirondack yesterday in Glens Falls. Results of the game were not available as of press time.
They travel to Albany today to start a three game set with the Diamond Dogs.
The Cougars return home on Tuesday, August 22 when they play back to back three-game sets with Waterbury and Allentown at Baxter Stadium.