It goes without saying that when you hand a hard-hitting team like the Black Sox an ungodly thirteen walks in a game, you are heading for a disaster of epic proportions...
Unless, that is, you play errorless baseball and your pitcher has the luckiest day of his life.
Coming into Thursday night's game at New Scotland, the Black Sox were 4-0 versus the Cougars. And over that span, Black Sox hitters have all but owned yours truly, Cougars' starting pitcher Frank Montagano.
But, then, even a blind pig finds a truffle once in a while--and all I can say is "oink, and point me towards the plate." In a complete game victory, Montagano yielded two runs on four hits, while chalking up seven strike-outs.
Final score: Cougars 4, Black Sox 2.
John Breen led the Cougars' offense with a two-rbi double and a single. He also scored a run and was rock solid at third base. Cougars' catcher Jim Wing did a first-rate job behind the plate, tagging out a pair of Black Sox runners and managing to corral a number of errant pitches.
But, truly, this was a team effort, and so I'd like to congratulate all of my fellow Cougars on a beautifully played game and our first win of the season.
Greg Hoin and Don Burriesci pitched superbly in hard luck for the Black Sox, holding the Cougars to only five hits and two walks. Bob Noto and Don Wixon each had an rbi single, and Dennis Reuter had a well-stroked double to center to pace the Black Sox attack. Reuter sparkled defensively, as well, scooping up at least three one-hop throws at first base--and making it look just too easy.
My compliments to the Black Sox, who had me sweating--and dodging--bullets up to the last out, and to the immortal Don Wixon, who, for my money, is the best manager and the fiercest competitor in the division. They are a great bunch of guys to a man, and demonstrated an exemplary graciousness in defeat.
And, finally, I'd like to wish Cougars' starting catcher Brian Quinn a speedy recovery after taking a bounced curveball flush on the neck in the second inning of yesterday's game. Despite having to come out of the game on defense, Brian managed to take his turns at bat, picking up an rbi in the process. As anyone who has seen him play will attest, Brian is one tough hombre.
Frank does not give himself enough credit. He had the BlackSox hitters off stride all night and probably pitched the most outstanding game a Cougar pitcher has ever pitched in their history. I complement the Cougar team as a whole for playing an outstanding game.
Frank and all Cougars congratulations on a well played game. Just to think how many pitches you must have thrown is mind boggling, 13 walks and 7 K's alone are 73 pitches, and when the game was over your arm wasn't dragging on the ground. Whenever you needed an out you dug down deep and either struck us out or got a weak grounder or a weakly stroked fly ball. Your defense played superbly, which, unfortunately I can not say for the Black Sox, and Andros' single and Breen's ripped double accounted for the deciding 3 runs in the top of the sixth. Good luck the rest of the way fellas. Brian, I hope you are feeling better, that was nasty.
