Cougars keep playoff hopes alive with split versus Colts

In the second half of their final home weekend, the Sault College Cougars took on the Centennial Colts. In what was their last home series of the season, the Cougars were sure to put on a show in front of fans at I.D.A Park.

The Cougars turned to their ace pitcher, Carter Gallivan in the first game and he did not disappoint. Gallivan managed to work his way through the first two innings despite clever base running by the Colts and fielding errors by the Cougars to maintain a scoreless game. In the bottom of the second inning, Ben Weatherbee and Michael Starzomski would each record doubles to get runners on second & third base with no outs. Connor Bruzas would record the RBI grounding out to first but cashing in Weatherbee. The Colts would avoid further damage and escape with only 1 run given up.

After scoreless third and fourth innings, the Colts would manage to even the score in the top of the fifth inning with a lead-off triple by Riley Briggs which would cash in on the next at-bat. With the score tied and the top of the order up to bat, Bryce Blixt took a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Aiden Russell would then walk and the Cougars executed a double steal to get runners to second and third. With 2 outs, Jayden Valle hit a single to centre field bringing home both base runners and giving the Cougars a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the final inning trailing by 2, the Colts would get a leadoff single followed by a walk and the Cougars turned to the bullpen with 1 out. Gallivan was replaced by Cole Masse, who would immediately record a strikeout, before giving up an RBI single to bring the game to 3-2. Sault College coach Mike Lebel then decided to walk the Colts clean-up batter and load the bases with 2 outs. Masse would battle with Ryan Stec before he hit a long fly-ball to centre field which was caught at the wall by Travis Rainey, as the Cougars faithful let out a collective breath and cheered for the 3-2 victory.

Gallivan would record the win, going 6.1 innings, striking out five batters, and only allowing 2 earned runs. Cole Masse recorded his second save of the season.

In Game 2 of the day, the Colts would not go quietly into the night. The Colts would combine as a team to go 12 for 29 at the plate with 8 walks as they cashed runs in each inning on their way to a 16-0 defeat of the Cougars. Dylan Szymoniak had the start for the Cougars while Nolan Toni came in as relief during the third inning.

The Cougars sit 4 points back of a playoff spot and travel to play the George Brown Huskies & Seneca Sting next weekend.