Cougars Win Again

April 7, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Geneva IL - The Kane County Cougars and Swing of the Quad Cities braved 30-degree temperatures and heavy wind gusts on Friday night at Elfstrom Stadium, but the Cougars warmed up after an 8-6 win from a solid team effort. Starter Vince Mazzaro went five innings to grab a victory in his first professional performance, and shortstop Justin Sellers had three hits and one RBI to lead the offensive charge.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the first, the Cougars jumped on Swing pitcher Phillip Andersen (0-1) for three runs. After a throwing error scored Mike Massaro, Jeff Baisley roped a sacrifice fly to bring in Nick Blasi for a 2-1 advantage. Jose Pineda's double provided a 3-1 count.

Mazzaro worked a perfect second, wiggled out of a jam in the third and allowed one run in the fourth inning to make it 3-2 before the Cougars erupted in their half of the fifth. Jeff Bieker and Frank Martinez each drove in a run, and first baseman Steve Kleen smacked his first hit as a Cougar with a two-run single. Sellers' ensuing single provided an 8-2 score.

Mazzaro (1-0) gave up two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out two in his five frames. Reliever Joe Piekarz gave up an unearned tally in the sixth and John Herrera posted a scoreless eighth for an 8-3 game entering the ninth. Quad Cities scored three runs against left-hander Brad Kilby before Steve Sharpe entered to record his second consecutive save.

The Cougars (2-0) and Swing (0-2) take the field for game three on Saturday afternoon at 2 CDT, as Jeff Gray pitches for Kane County against Mark McCormick.

Midwest League Stories from April 7, 2006

• Bees Snap Opening Day O-fer - Burlington Bees
• Cougars Win Again - Kane County Cougars
• Three Chiefs Pitchers Shutout Wisconsin 3-0 - Peoria Chiefs
• Silver Hawks Come from Five Down to Beat Dragons 9-8 - Dayton Dragons
• Lugnuts Take Second Straight - Lansing Lugnuts
• Chiefs freeze out Rattlers 3-0 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Chiefs freeze out Rattlers 3-0 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Three runs in the ninth not enough; Quad Cities falls to 0-2 - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Snappers Win on Walk Off Shot by Sanchez - Beloit Sky Carp
• Rays Season at C. O. Brown opens in Royal Fashion - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Swing stymied on opening day - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Tim Mattison joins Kernels; Espinoza assigned to Tempe - Cedar Rapids Kernels

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