Cougars Baseball stays in playoff hunt after busy week on diamond
The Central McLean Cougars put together a demanding three-game stretch last week, battling through a tough loss before responding with back-to-back victories to remain firmly in the mix in the Region VI baseball standings.
By week’s end, Central McLean stood at 4-3 in region play and 10-6 overall, sitting fourth in a competitive Region VI race behind Velva-Drake/Anamoose (6-1), Bishop Ryan-Nedrose (6-2), and Garrison (4-2).
The week began Tuesday, April 28, with a home matchup against Garrison, where a four-run third inning proved to be the difference in a 5-2 Cougar loss.
Garrison finished with 10 hits, while Central McLean collected seven of its own, but the Cougars were unable to capitalize on enough scoring chances.
Dawson Smith led the offense by going 2-for-4 at the plate. Ethan Hanson added a 1-for-4 performance, while Cooper Kittler finished 1-for-4 with an RBI. Jackson Blotter went 1-for-3, Jase Utley was 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Chase Kinn chipped in a 1-for-3 effort.
On the mound, Hanson started and worked 2.0 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs while walking three and striking out four. Utley provided steady relief, tossing 5.0 innings while allowing seven hits and two earned runs with three walks and four strikeouts.
Central McLean wasted little time bouncing back.
Traveling to Surrey on Thursday, April 30, the Cougars broke open a close contest with a strong middle innings surge and rolled to a commanding 12-2 win over the Mustangs in five innings.
Central McLean plated one run in the first, added three in the third, three more in the fourth, and erupted for five runs in the fifth to put the game away.