All Saints Claims Conference Baseball Title

USA Patriots no match for high powered Cougars

May 20, 2009
By: Kevin Kula

Cougars Pre-game ritual on the mound gets them off to a great start. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

Still undefeated in their conferences, the All Saints Cougars planned to take two wins from the U.S.A. Patriots and secure the Conference Title.

USA Patriots warm up before this Conference game. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

The Cougars started their opening game just as they had planned. The Cougars stuck first in the bottom of the first when #6 Adam Pijaszek scored off a hit from #7 Kevin Gwizdala. Substitute runner #16 Jimmy Hunter; for pitcher #12 Drew Bauer, add an RBI for #21 Justin Villano off his line drive.

(Above) Kevin Gwizdala lets this pitch go by . . . (Below) So he can smack this one deep!.

(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

In the top of the second, however, the Cougars faced a potential turning point as the Patriots loaded the bases. With only one out on the board, All Saints pitcher #12 Bauer struck out the next batter, and made the key defensive play tagging out USA's Blitzer at home plate.



ASC Senior Drew Bauer brings the strike! (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

Bauer then makes a play at the plate to keep his shutout going! (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

The Cougars went back on the attack and added two more runs to their score in the bottom of the second off of hits from Villano and #14 Kevin "fridge" Jakubczak.

Cougar Kevin Jakubczak adds an RBI with this hit! (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

In the bottom of the fifth, Justin Villano again got the ball rolling for the Cougars with a sacrifice to bring in Pijaszek. Seconds later #3 Aaron Janer stole home, and Jakubczak batted in Hunter. To cap a very successful fifth inning for the Cougars, a costly mistake from Patriot catcher # 9 Zimmer allowed the Cougars Justin Villano to spectacularly steal home. The Cougars headed into the sixth inning up 8-0.

The ball explodes off the end of the bat for Josh Sutton. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

A conference on the mound didn't help USA slow down the Cougars who scored 4 runs in the 5th. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

Justin Villano with a sacrifice hit = another run. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

Justin Villano steals home, PRICELESS ! ! (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)

The Cougars went to work defensively, and, if not for an untimely balk from Bauer, All Saints would have won in shutout fashion. The Cougars, nevertheless seized a 8-1 victory that paved the way for their all out route of the Patriots in game two. The Cougars hard hitters stepped up in game two, with Adam Pijaszek on the mound and secured a 11-1 mercy for All Saints that secured their #1 status in their conference.