By Frank Rizzo
MOUNTAINDALE — September 1, 2000 – The Catskill Cougars ended their season last night on the road in Elmira. Results were not available at press time.
Their last homestand came on Tuesday with a doubleheader against the same Elmira Pioneers at Mountaindale’s Baxter Stadium.
The Pioneers have already clinched the Northern League’s East Conference-South Division first half title and were leading the second half race as well. They will play Allentown in the first round of the playoffs.
Allentown beat out the Cougars for the division’s last playoff spot.
Catskill gave its announce crowd of 1,181 on Tuesday a reason to cheer by sweeping its doubleheader, 5-4 and 11-10.
Gavin Fingleson doubled and Rafael Martinez followed with a single in the fifth inning of the first game to provide the eventual winning run.
Fingleson was 2-for-2 in the game with an RBI in support of winning pitcher Ken Wagner (3–8).
In the nightcap, Catskill trailed 10-5 heading into their last at-bats, but tied it with five as Ryan Pond smashed a grand slam.
Ricky Peel scored the winner in the ninth when he singled, stole second, and scored on a Tony Darden double. Darden and Pond both finished 3-for-5 as Chet Chambless (4–3) picked up the win.
Elmira had jumped out to a 7-0 lead in this game.
On Wednesday the Cougars traveled to Elmira and lost 3-1. Darden’s homer, his seventh, accounted for the run.
On Tuesday, we’ll take a look at the Cougars’ future prospects, and whether there will be baseball at Baxter next year.