Cougar Game Archives 2007

This is the place for a recap of the Cougar season.

The Cougars lost in extra innings to Burnsville 8-7.

( more to come... )

The varsity Cougars were one out from a win but had a hard time closing the door on Kennedy as the Eagles scored four runs with two outs for 14-12 come from behind win over South.

The Eagles started the game out with a home run and six runs in the 1st inning, but as the Cougars have done all year, they kept on fighting. The South players picked up three runs of their own in the first when Chirs Erikson was hit by a pitch, ALex Messick had a single up the middle before Mick Wald hit a single to right-center, driving in both runs. Wald made it to 3rd with some heads up baserunning as he followed the throw on the play. He then scored on a passed ball.

Chris Erikson gets his lead at 1st, slides safely into 2nd, then dusts himself off.

In the 3rd Kennedy came back to score three more runs, but the Cougars weren't done hitting. In the 4th Jose Martinez led off with a walk. Chris Erikson followed with a single up the middle. Alex Messick had a single to right, driving in Martinez. Ben Hansen then dropped a single over the 2nd baseman knocking in Erikson. Mick Wald reached baase on a fielder's choice before Joe Novak had a two-run single down the left field line to score Messick and Hansen. Mick Wald scored on Andrew Maher's groundout. Joey Novak scored the final run of the inning to tie the game at 9 each.

Mike McNamee started for the Cougars on the mound and was relieved by Andrew Maher in the 3rd. Maher shut the Eagles down in the 4th allowing no runs and holding the score at 9-9. Senior Alex Messick came on in the top of the 5th with the bases loaded to pitch for the first time this season. Messick was able to get out of the inning with a strike out looking to preserve the tie.

Alex Messick pitches for the first time all season and was in good form.

In the bottom of the 5th Jose Martinez led off with a single to right-center. Chris Erikson knocked him in with a double down the right field line. Alex Messick followed with another double to drive in Erikson. Messick later scored on a passed ball to give the Cougars a 12-9 lead.

In the 6th both sides went down with a groundout and two strikeouts looking. Messick needed just 12 pitches to shut the Eagles down in the 6th and looked in good form as he got ahead of most batters with many 0-2 counts

In the top of the 7th the first batter was retired on a 4-3 groundout. The next batter reached on a single and was moved to 2nd on a unassisted groundout to 1st baseman Chris Erikson. With only one out left the Eagles came back to score five runs in the inning to take a 14-12 lead. The Cougars were shut out in the bottom of the 7th to take the loss.

Alex Messick led all Cougar hitters on the day by going 4 for 5 at the plate. Chris Erikson and Joe Novak were both 2 for 3. Also collecting hits were Eric Boelter, Mick Wald and Ben Hanson.

It was senior day for the last varsity home game as South took on Kennedy. The Cougars honored their seniors and their senior parents during pre-game ceremonies at Cougar Field. Though low in numbers, the senior class holds lots of talent and is special to the Cougars, having been top-dog for two years in a row at South.

The Cougars next game is on the road at Burnsville on Thursday night at 7:00.
 

Senior catcher Alex Messick gets high fives after hitting two-run shot in the 5th.

The South Cougars played it close with Chaska through 5 1/2 innings, leading 3-2 as they headed to the bottom of the 5th, but the Hawks stormed back for ten runs in the inning behind a Chaska grand slam to put the game away. Chaska defeated the Cougars by a score of 12-4 in Chaska.

Taylor West started on the mound for the Cougars and pitched well through the first four innings, scattering six hits and two-runs before getting in trouble in the 5th.

Chaska scored one run in the 1st to take the opening lead.

Mick Wald led off the 2nd with a double and later scored to tie the game at one.

Taylor West shut down the Hawk offense in the 2nd and 3rd innings, facing only four batters in each inning.

The Hawk pitcher did the same in return to the Cougars in the 3rd and 4th innings, facing only four batters in each. The Hawks scored one run in the bottom of the 4th to take a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the 5th, Chris Erikson was hit with a pitch to lead off the inning on 1st base. Senior catcher Alex Messick, who already had a hit in the 3rd inning, fought to a 2-2 count before depositing the next pitch over the right field fence for a two-run home run. The Cougars took the lead by a score of 3-2.

The Hawks broke through in the bottom of the 5th for 10 runs on seven hits. Blake Nicols came on in relief and pitched to four batter in the inning to get the last out.

Mick Wald led off the top of the 6th with a single. Eric Boelter then came to the plate and fought to a full-count before stroking a single up the middle to move Wald to 2nd. Joe Novak then came up and with a 1-0 count hit a single to left-center to score Wald.

Collecting hits for the Cougars were: Alex Messick, (2 for 3 with two-run homer) Mick Wald (3 for 4 with 2b), Joe Novak (2 for 3 with 2b) and Eric Boelter (1 for 1).

Taylor West started on the mound for the Cougars and went 4 2/3rds innings before being relieved by Blake Nicols in trhe 5th. Andrew Maher came on in the 6th and allowed a lead off single, before striking out two Hawks and getting a 1-3 groundout in the inning.

The Cougars next game is at home on Wednesday afternoon at 4:15 versus Bloomington Kennedy.
 

The Cougars were two outs away from a win over Eagan, but the Wildcats had other ideas as they stormed back to score five runs in the top of the 7th and edge the South varsity 7-5 at Cougar Field.

Joe Novak started on the mound for the Cougars and pitched 6 1/3rd very strong innings. He was relieved in the 7th by junior Blake Nicols who came on to get the last two outs.

The Cougars scored one in the 1st, two in the 4th and two more runs in the 6th. Alex Messick drove in the first Cougar run in the 1st with a single up the middle, scoring lead-off batter Jose Martinez.

The Wildcats scored one in the top of the 2nd to knot the game at one all.

In the 4th, senior Ross Thelen led off the inning with a walk on a 3-2 count. Center fielder Mick Wald worked the count to his favor at 2-1 before depositing the next pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homer, his second shot of the year for the Cougars.

Mick Wald (#5) is mobbed by teammates after hitting two-run homer in the 4th.

The Cougars took a 3-1 lead into the top of the 5th where Eagan scored once again to pull the game closer.

Ross Thelen led off the 6th with another walk before Mick Wald collected his second hit of the day. Joe Novak then sacrifice bunted to move both runners into scoring position. Forrest brown hit into a fielder's choice back to the 3rd baseman who went home with a wild throw, allowing both Cougar runners to score.

The Cougars held a 5-2 lead going into the top of the 7th before Eagan erupted for five runs to decide the game.

Defensively the Cougars had some solid play on the field. Junior Jake Wanner made an outstanding play in the hole at 2nd to get the runner at first and save a run in the 5th inning. Wanner was moving to his right to decoy the runner when the ball was hit sharply to his left. Wanner was able to scramble back to his left where he dove for the ball totally stretched out and was able to knock it down and still get back up in time to get the runner at first. The play helped preserve a one-run lead at the time for the Cougars.

Left fielder Eric Watts had a nice play in the 2nd inning when he had to come a long way and laid out for a fly ball in foul territory, making a diving catch behind the bullpen mound for the 2nd out of the inning.

The Cougars collected eight hits on the day. Mick Wald led South batters by going 2 for 4 at the plate with a 2-run homer and a single. Others collecting hits for the Cougars were Jose Martinez, Alex Messick, Eric Watts, Nick Altavilla, Chris Erikson, and Joe Novak.

Picking up RBIs for the Cougars were Alex Messick (1), Mick Wald (2) and Forrest Brown (2).

The Cougars next game is Monday under the lights, May 14th at 7:00 at Chaska.

The Cougar starting nine introduced before the Bloomington Jefferson game.

The Cougars had the lead on Wednesday but couldn't hang on as Jefferson pulled away in Bloomington for a 13-6 win over South.

The Cougars immediately put up 3 runs in the first inning but could only find one base runner in the next two innings. South hitters broke through for three more runs in the 4th, but after that they could only manage one base-runner the rest of the game

Matt Iverson started on the mound for the Cougars. He pitched into the 3rd before being relieved by Chris Erikson. Andrew Maher came on in the 5th to pitch for the Cougars while Blake Nicols finished on the mound for South in the 6th.

The Cougars had six hits in the game. Collecting hits for the Cougars were Jose Martinez, Alex Messick, Eric Watts, Nick Altavillla, Chris Erikson and Joe Novak. Mick Wald had a sac fly in the 1st inning.

Jefferson scored seven in the 3rd, three in the 4th and three in the 5th.

The Cougars next game is at home versus Eagan on Thursday

COUGARS BLANKED BY EDEN PRAIRIE
Only Six Hits For South Batters

It's been a heartbreaking year to say the least for the South Cougars. The game Monday afternoon with Eden Prairie was another tough day on the diamond as the Eagles shut out the Cougars 12-0 in a thoroughly rain soaked contest.

The weather was tough to handle on the day as the game had to be stopped for heavy rain, which made for an all around miserable wet afternoon for all involved.

Sophomore Mike McNamee pitches for the Cougars against Eden Prairie.

The Eagles scored five in the 1st, two runs in the 4th and 1 run in the 5th. Eden Priairie came back to score four more runs in the 7th inning.

Sophomore Mike McNamee started on the mound for the Cougars and pitched hard for 5 1/3rd innings. Reed Bunnell came on in relief in the 6th with one out and a runner on 1st. He was able to get a comeback tapper to the mound on the next pitch, where he turned and started a 1-6-3 double-play to end the inning. Bunnell also pitched in the 7th.

The Cougars were held to just six hits for the game. Jose Martinez was 2 for 4 to lead South batters. Others collecting hits for the Cougars were seniors Eric Boelter, Alex Messick, junior Mick Wald and also sophomore Joe Novak who had a double in the game.

Sophomore Andrew Maher tracks a ball hit to 3rd base.

The Cougars now go back on the road for one game as they travel to Bloomington Jefferson on Wednesday for a 7:00pm game under the lights.

EAGLES SWEEP SEASON SERIES FROM SOUTH VARSITY
Apple Valley Rolls By Cougars 15-3

COUGARS LOSE REGULAR SERIES FINAL TO NORTH
Four Home Runs By Panthers Propel North Over South Varsity 11-1

Old friends get together. Coach Market and coach Zeise at home plate.

The Cougar varsity lost the regular season series to the cross-town Panthers by a score of 11-1. Long-ball was the story of the game as the Panther hitters knocked four home runs over the fence.

The Cougars on the other hand were held to just three hits on the day. Collecting hits were Jose Martinez, Mick Wald and Nick Altavilla.

Nick Daniels started on the mound for the Cougars and had to fight out of a hole with three unearned runs to start the first inning. Daniels went 6 1/3rd for the Cougars before being relieved by Joe Novak.

Many didn't think the game would be played at all due to the intense lightning and thunder, but the game went on and the rain eventually stopped. When it was over the Cougars were still winless on the year as North prevailed for the second time this season over South.

The Cougars next game is 11:00 this Saturday morning at home against Apple Valley for LBA Day at Cougar Field.

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South and North shake hands when it's all over.

COUGARS LEAD BOTH BUT DROP TWO IN DUNDAS
Messick Leads Cougar Hitters, 4 for 7 with 5 RBIs For The Afternoon

Game 1: Northfield 11-9  |  Game 2: New Ulm 12-7

It was an extremely frustrating day for the Cougar varsity in Dundas at Memorial Stadium as they led both contests against Northfield and New Ulm, but lost them both at the end, 11-9 and 12-7.

Alex Messick was 4 for 7 on the day with 5 RBIs for the Cougars. Chris Erikson was 3 for 5 in the first game and Mick Wald had two doubles. Erikson just missed hitting for the cycle by mere feet when he flew out to left center in his last at bat.

In the second game Jose Martinez and Nick Altavilla were both 2 for 5.

Matt Iverson started the first game and allowed only three hits through 4 1/3rd. Mike McNamee started game two, striking out five in just the first three innings.

View box score Northfield game 1

View box score New Ulm game 2

Matt Iverson allowed only 3 hits through 4 1/3rd innings against Northfield.

Sophomore Mike McNamee Struck out 5 in just 3 innings against New Ulm.

Alex Messick was on fire Saturday, going 4 for 7 with 5 RBIs on the day.

Sophomore Chris Erikson just misses hitting for the cycle by mere feet.

The Cougars next game is Monday versus Lakeville North.

EASTVIEW SWEEPS TWO FROM COUGAR VARSITY
Thelen Hits Solo Home Run For Cougars In Game One

It turns out that lightning can strike the same spot twice and the Cougar varsity can attest to that from Thursday night as the Eastview Lightning swept a pair from South, 8-2 and 12-6.

Nick Daniels was the stating pitcher for the first game and Reed Bunnell started the nightcap for the Cougars.

Catcher consoles pitcher as Ross Thelen heads for home after going "yard."

View box score game 1

View box score game 2

The Cougars have another double-header this coming weekend (4/28) in Dundas as they take on Northfield and New Ulm at Memorial Field. The first game begins at 11:00am.

ROSEMOUNT DEFEATS VARSITY 12-1
South Pitching Hit Hard; Defense Is Rough For Cougars

The Cougar varsity had another rough day on the diamond as the Rosemount Irish knocked out ten hits off Cougar pitching and won the game by a score of 12-1. The Cougar defense was shaky on the afternoon as the team collectively picked up six errors fielding on the night.

The Cougars have played much better defensively and also hit much better before Wednesday, but the game against the Irish was just not to be for the Cougars.

The scoreboard says it all as the Cougars have bad day against Rosemount.

Joe Novak started on the mound for the Cougars and pitched four full innings. He gave up a two-run home run in the first inning and the Irish didn't look back from then on. Novak was relieved by Blake Nicols in the 5th who worked the final inning to seven batters before getting the final out.

Senior Ross Thelen scored the only Cougar run of the day on a groundout by Nick Daniels. Thelen originally reached base with a double to the right field gap. The Cougars tallied only four hits on the day. The other Cougar hitters were Jose Martinez, Forrest Brown, and Nick Altavilla.

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Junior Blake Nicols pitches in relief against Rosemount.

The Cougars next game is a doubleheader with Eastview on Thursday (4/26). The game will be played at Legion Field in Apple Valley.

It was a rough homecoming for the Cougar varsity as they played their first game at home on Monday. The Burnsville Blaze dropped the Cougars by a score of 14-3. Monday's game is the first of six games to be played in the week and the Cougars are worried about pitching.

Matt Iverson started on the mound and pitched 4 1/3 innings of work. Chris Erikson came on in relief in the 4th.

Chris Erikson pitches to Burnsville in the 6th.

Erikson was the Cougars leading hitter on the night, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and a single. Erikson scored once also. Mick Wald hit a solo home run to lead off the 6th inning. Wald hit the first pitch he saw and drove a looping liner just over the top of the left field fence to give the Cougars their third and final run of the afternoon It was the first home run of the year for a Cougar player..

Nick Daniels collected the only other hit for the Cougars on the day and drove in two RBIs as well. The Cougar hitters were on fire coming into the game, but the Blaze proved to be hotter on Monday, out-hitting the Cougars 17 to 5.

The Cougars finish their short home-stand this Wednesday when they host Rosemount at 4:15 at Cougar Field.

View game box score
 

COUGARS END ROAD TRIP WITH LOSS TO KENNEDY
Bats Come Alive For Second Night In A Row, But Too Many Left On Base

Nick Daniels looks for a sign as shortstop Jose Martinez looks on.

The Cougar varsity baseball team just ended its season opening five game road trip, and they are happy to be going home. The team dropped their first three games to the last three defending state champions. The last two games the bats have come alive for the Cougars but they've come up short in each game. It was two runs on Wednesday to Eagan and on Thursday it was a one run loss to the Kennedy Eagles, 6-5.

One thing does seem certain, the team appears to be much closer to getting that first win. Coach Zeise has specifically drilled his players this week on nothing but hitting. The extra work seems to have paid off big time as the Cougar bats have finally erupted the last two games.

Alex Messick waits for his pitch.

The Cougars tallied ten hits on the afternoon, but the story of the day was the number of men left on base as the Cougars stranded seven runners in the first three innings. The team left the bases loaded in both the 1st and 2nd innings.

The Cougars tallied three runs in the first and one run in the 3rd with a final run in the 7th.

Collecting hits for the Cougars were Jose Martinez (2), Alex Messick (2), Ross Thelen (2), Mick Wald, Eric Watts, Nick Altavilla and Chris Erikson. Nick Daniels hit the ball hard with a nice sacrifice fly to right in the 1st inning.

Nick Daniels started on the mound and scattered six hits over four innings. The Eagles scored two in the 1st, one in the 3rd, and three runs in the 4th to put the game away.

Blake Nicols came on to pitch in relief and pitched very well, giving up no hits and no runs during the final two innings.

Mick Wald goes for a pitch against Kennedy at Red Haddox Field.

The Cougars ended their five game road trip and will play at home for the first time in their season home opener on Monday against Burnsville.

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Game pictures available from www.rollingphoto.com
 

COUGARS OUT HIT EAGAN BUT LOSE WILD ONE 7-5
Crazy Play Highlights Four-Run 2nd Inning

Just when you think you've seen it all in baseball... well, you learn there's always something new to be seen in baseball. Unfortunately the Cougars received an interesting lesson in umpiring 101 on Tuesday as they out-hit the Wildcats 11-5 but lost the game by a score of 7-5.

Sophomore Joe Novak starts on the hill for the Cougars against Eagan.

Joe Novak started on the mound for the Cougars and gave up two hits and a run from the first two batters before getting the #3 hitter to ground out and then fanning the #4 and #5 hitters.

The 2nd inning is where everything suddenly went upside down and the rule book was given a hard run for its money. Novak hit the first batter on a 1-0 pitch. The runner then stole 2nd base before the #7 hitter tapped a 1-2 pitch back to the mound for a 1-3 groundout. The next batter hit another ball back to the pitcher for a fielder's choice, but the Cougars were unable to get the lead run. And then the chaos began.

With Eagan runners at 1st and 3rd the Cougars had the runner at 3rd picked off. The Wildcat runner charged down the 3rd baseline towards home and then hastily retreated once catcher Alex Messick received the ball. As Messick ran after in pursuit, the runner ran so far wide left out of the baseline that he was past the coaches box, which is set back quite a bit farther than the legal baselines. Rather than being called out for being outside the baselines, the umpire allowed the runner to call time-out while the play was in progress. The umpire then allowed the runner to be safe at 3rd, rather than be tagged out.

While time was allegedly called out, the back runner from 1st then ran to 2nd base, but he was eventually sent back to first base. The Lakeville Cougar crowd went into a literal uproar over the ruling that was strangely enough applied to the play at 3rd. Coach Zeise was out of the dugout twice to question the play and to seek reasoning for the call at 3rd, but was instead banished to the dugout for the rest of the game by the umpires.

Joe Novak pitched until the 3rd inning when he was hit with a line drive off the bat. Even though he had only given up two hits, Novak was then relieved from the mound for precautionary measures and sent to 3rd base as Reed Bunnell came on to pitch for the Cougars. Bunnell finished the game by pitching 3 2/3rds innings, giving up only two hits during a great performance on the mound. "Reedo" as he is called by his teammates was able to induce four ground outs, four pop ups and one strikeout while on the pitching rubber.

The Cougars scored in the 2nd when Nick Altavilla hit a shot down the left field line to score Donny Sullivan, running for the catcher Messick who walked in the inning.

Eric Boelter gets a lead at 2nd base against the Eagan Wildcats.

The Cougars scored again in the 4th when Alex Messick led off with a single to right field. Nick Daniels followed with a single up the middle, to the right side of 2nd. Mick Wald then followed with a single to the left side of 2nd base. With the bases loaded, Nick Altavilla hit into a 6-4-3 double-play, but a run scored in the process. Joe Novak was then hit by a pitch. With Daniels at 3rd and Novak at 1st, Eric Watts hit a ball through the shortstop, driving in the run to score from 3rd base.

The Cougars scored twice again in the 5th. Ross Thelen led off with a single. Alex Messick walked and then Nick Daniels hit into a fielder's choice. Mick Wald then walked to load the bases before Altavilla returned to the plate to hit a two-run double into the right-field gap to close the scoring on the day for the Cougars.

Collecting hits for the Cougars were... Nick Daniels, Jose Martinez (2), Alex Messick, Ross Thelen, Eric Watts (2), Mick Wald, Nick Altavilla (2) and Chris Erickson.

Nick Altavilla drove in four RBIs for the day. Eric Watts had the only other RBI for the Cougars.

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The Cougars next game is Thursday at Bloomington Kennedy.
 

COUGARS BATTLE EDEN PRAIRIE DESPITE SCORE
Team Shakes Off Rough 1st Inning And Plays Hard

Pitching coach Jake Groff (16) visits the mound to discuss the situation.

You wouldn't know it from the score, but the South-Eden Prairie game turned out to be a good contest as the Cougars fought hard, despite starting out 7 runs down in the first.

Junior pitcher Matt Iverson made his first varsity start and was roughed up in the first inning, however, he settled down in the 2nd and pitched very well for the Cougars for the next three innings, giving up no runs to a very good hitting team.

Said head coach Mark Zeise, "We're very pleased with Iverson and how he threw after the first inning. He fought back and pitched well. A game like this should really help in the future."

The story once again though was the hitting as the Eagle hurlers tossed a no-hitter at the Cougars. The Cougars were able to hit the ball hard a few times but it was usually right at someone in the outfield. Nick Daniels hit a couple balls very hard but only had one on by error to show for his efforts.

"That was their number one starter today and he's as good as any in the state," said coach Zeise. "He's tough."

Still, despite the lack of any hitting, the Cougar offense was able to peck away for two runs through walks and some timely errors from the Eden Prairie defense.

Alex Messick reached on an error by the shortstop and  Ross Thelen walked to give the Cougars two runners. Messick and Thelen both advanced on groundouts by Mick Wald and Eric Watts. With runners at second and third, Nick Altavilla chopped a ball back to the shortstop who threw way over the head of the first baseman. Altavilla was safe on the play while both lead runners scored.

"If you take away the first inning, it's a close ballgame all the way," said Zeise.

Chris Erikson also pitched well for the Cougars in relief in the 6th, giving up two hits but no runs. One of those hits was a bunt down the third base line that rolled forever precariously on the white chalk foul line, but just refused to roll foul.

Jose Martinez came on to pitch the 7th, giving up only one hit but he walked five and had one fly-out and one groundout. Reed Bunnel came on with only one out and the bases loaded. The first batter he faced he was able to force a ground ball to 3rd for a force-out. Bunnel then struck the final batter out swinging on a 1-2 count.

Catcher Alex Messick, Coach Groff and pitcher Jose Martinez talk strategy.

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The Cougars are 0-3 on the young season and continue on their five game opening road trip with a visit to Eagan on Wednesday.

COUGARS LOSE TO DEFENDING CHAMPS 7-1
Hitting Has Yet To Hit Team Stride For Cougars

Nick Daniels pitched well through 3 2/3rds for the Cougars.

The weather was much warmer than opening day, but the outcome was still tough for the Cougars as they lost on the road to the defending state champion Apple Valley Eagles by a score of 7-1. The game-time temperature was 54 degrees and skies were partly sunny for this make-up game rescheduled from Thursday.

Senior Nick Daniels started on the mound for the Cougars and scattered 4 hits through 3 2/3rd innings. Daniels gave up just two hits in the first three innings, both coming in the first inning, including a solo home run down the left field line.

In the 2nd, Daniels settled into his normal groove and pitched very efficiently for the next two innings, inducing four ground outs, to go with the first two from the first inning. Aside from two defensive errors behind him, Daniels pitched well before being relieved in the 4th by Joe Novak, who faced three batters, giving up a fielder's choice and a hit before getting out number three.

In the 5th, Novak coerced two quick ground-outs before giving up two hits, a walk and a run and then striking out the Eagles #3 hitter to end the inning.

Chris Erikson came on to pitch the 6th and faced only four batters, yielding no hits or walks and striking out one. An infield error was the only batter to reach for Apple Valley in the 6th.

Cougar hitting was slim once again as they managed only five hits on the day and stranded a total of nine runners in the game. Collecting hits for the Cougars were Nick Daniels, Alex Messick, Ross Thelen, Eric Watts, and Chris Erikson.

Alex Messick and Mick Wald discuss Apple Valley's pitcher.

The Cougars next game is Monday at Eden Prairie. The first three games of the season have been a test of metal for the still young Cougars. Not only are the first five games on the road, but the first three are against the last three defending state champions, Apple Valley, Eden Prairie and Lakeville North, although the Panthers won the crown as one Lakeville school.

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The Cougars are 0-2 for the season and will head next to Eden Prairie on Monday, April 16th at 4:15.

The Cougar baseball season officially opened on Monday as the South varsity battled Lakeville North, on the road in Elko. Like the weather, the Cougar bats were cold for the game which began with a game-time temperature of only 40 degrees. The  Panthers were able to pick up two runs in the 4th, one run in the 5th and three 3 runs in the 6th, for a 6-0 win at Fredrickson Field.

When asked to comment on the season's first game, Coach Zeise said, "Good pitching, good defense... we need better hitting."

A bright spot in the game was the pitching of sophomore Joe Novak. A last minute substitution on the mound, Joe Novak pitched well through 4 and 1/3 innings, scattering eight hits while giving up 3 runs. Novak struck out three in his first inning, including the #3 and #4 power hitters for the team.

Novak also worked out of a 3rd inning jam with the bases loaded when he was able to field a pitch hit back to him and then throw to 2nd to start a 1-6-3 inning ending double-play.

Sophomore Joe Novak pitches against North.

"Jo-No," as he is known by his teammates, was the victim of two-seeing eye singles down an unpainted right field foul line, giving up two runs in the 4th. He pitched to four batters in the 5th and had one out, retiring the #4 hitter on a fly-out to center field, before being lifted for reliever Reed Bunnell.

Regarding Novak's pitching performance, Zeise said, "We were really encouraged with him. Take away a couple infield hits and a wild pitch, he pitched a strong game."

Coach Zeise then commented on the relief pitching. "Bunnell came in and got those next two strikeouts. That was big. With his change of speeds and everything, he's a good contrast to Joe."

Collecting the only hits for the Cougars on the day were Jose Martinez, Eric Boelter and Mick Wald.

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The Cougars next game is at Apple Valley against the defending state champion Eagles, but that game is now questionable due to the snow. Stay tuned to this space, or watch your Cougar team email for more details.

Varsity head coach Zeise speaks to his squad after their first game.