Cougars offense explodes
The Central McLean Cougars showed resilience during the Babe Ruth Baseball District Tournament, responding to a difficult opening-round loss with two convincing victories before closing their tournament run against the Lumberkings.
Central McLean played four games in three days from Sunday, July 12, through Tuesday, July 14. The Cougars defeated Bowman and the Belfield Knights after falling to Hettinger in the tournament opener, finishing with a 2-2 record.
The Cougars began the tournament Sunday against a Hettinger team that quickly took control on its way to a 19-1 victory in five innings.
Hettinger scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning before breaking the game open with nine runs in the third and five more in the fourth.
Central McLean was held scoreless through the first four innings before pushing across its lone run in the top of the fifth.
Pearce Levey recorded the Cougars’ only hit, finishing 1-for-2. Kasen Haraseth drove in Central McLean’s run, while Luke Walcker drew a walk.
Landon Saueressig started on the mound and worked 2 1/3 innings. He allowed eight hits and 10 runs, five earned, while walking two and striking out five. Jaxon Wagner, Levey and Ethan Saueressig also pitched in relief.
Ethan Saueressig provided a bright spot by retiring Hettinger without allowing a hit or run in the fourth inning. He struck out two batters during his scoreless frame.
Facing an early end to the tournament, Central McLean responded with its strongest offensive performance of the week Monday against Bowman. The Cougars collected 14 hits and scored in every inning of a 24-3, five-inning victory.
Central McLean scored two runs in each of the first two innings before exploding for 10 in the third. The Cougars added two more in the fourth and eight in the fifth.
Landon Saueressig led the offensive surge by going 4-for-5 with four RBIs and a walk. Ethan Saueressig finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two walks, while Levey went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a walk.
Abram Haraseth added two hits, three RBIs and two walks. Wagner was 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Maddix Fylling and Kasen Haraseth each recorded a hit. Central McLean also took advantage of 14 walks and six Bowman errors.
The Cougars received a dominant pitching performance from Jayden Troyna. Troyna threw three hitless and scoreless innings, allowing only one walk while striking out six.
Ethan Saueressig completed the final two innings. Bowman recorded its only hit and scored three unearned runs in the fifth, but the Cougars finished off the run-rule victory.
Central McLean returned to the field Tuesday for a seven-inning matchup with the Belfield Knights. Despite being outhit 15-6, the Cougars used patient at-bats and timely hitting to earn a 13-9 victory.
The Cougars scored once in the first inning and four times in the second to build a 5-2 advantage. After two scoreless innings, Central McLean added four runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and two in the seventh.