Cougars Hang on for Wild, Crucial Win

Published on August 28, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

PEORIA, IL - The Kane County Cougars held a 9-0 lead Tuesday night against the Peoria Chiefs and let it slip away before they regrouped for a 10-9 win in front of 2,214 at Elfstrom Stadium. The victory ties the Cougars with Peoria in the standings, and each team is one game behind Cedar Rapids for the wild card playoff spot.

The Cougars scored two runs in three different innings -- the first, second and fourth -- and added one in the fifth to build a 7-0 cushion. Alex Valdez had a pair of run-scoring hits, and several other players reached base multiple times. Then Jermaine Mitchell and Josh Horton came around in the seventh for the 9-0 count.

Meanwhile Cougars starter Travis Banwart was cruising. The right-hander didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning and had a shutout through six. But three hits and two errors in the seventh ended his night, as he gave up five runs -- one earned -- on four hits, walked two and struck out five over a career-high 6 1/3 innings. Nick Walters and Andrew Carignan each gave up two unearned runs, as the Chiefs scored five runs in the seventh and four in the eighth to make it 9-9.

The Cougars (34-28) responded in the top of the ninth against Matt Maradeo (0-3), as Jermaine Mitchell led off with a double, was moved to third by Josh Horton and scored on a run-producing fielder's choice by Haas Pratt. Carignan (1-1) finished off the Chiefs (35-29) in the bottom to preserve the dramatic victory.

The finale of the two-game set is Wednesday night at 6:30 CT. James Heuser (11-7) will face Robert Hernandez (6-9).

Midwest League Stories from August 28, 2007

• Bees Miss Chance to Sting Swing - Burlington Bees
• Cougars Hang on for Wild, Crucial Win - Kane County Cougars
• Late Error Results in Loss for Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
• Chiefs Rally Falls Short - Peoria Chiefs
• Lansing Wins Sixth Straight - Lansing Lugnuts
• Doubleheader Sweep for Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Dorn, Marmol Lift Swing - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Pitching, Rivera Lead Loons - Great Lakes Loons
• Rattlers Pick Up Third Straight Win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Lugnuts Double Up Dragons in Opener, 10-5 - Dayton Dragons
• Newton is Newest Walk-Off Hero for Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Barret Browning named to MWL Post Season All-Star Team - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Sean O'Sullivan named MWL Pitcher of the Week - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• 'Caps Win Post Season Awards - West Michigan Whitecaps
• New Arm Added To Staff - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Playoff Tickets On Sale Wednesday - Quad Cities River Bandits
• 2007 MWL Post-Season All-Star Team Announced - MWL1
• Errors prove costly in 6-3 loss to Swing - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Snappers Lose One, Gain Two - Beloit Sky Carp
• Swing Bolster Bullpen, Add Lefty Spade - Quad Cities River Bandits
• August Players of the Month Nominees Announced - Dayton Dragons

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Kane County Cougars Stories

• RailCats Take Series Finale, Hand Cougars First Series Loss
• Cougars Bounce Back to Even Series with RailCats in 9-4 Victory
• RailCats Power Past Cougars in Series Opener
• Cougars Snap DockHounds' Winning Streak in 8-2 Victory
• Late Rally Falls Short as DockHounds Extend Winning Streak