Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: August 30-September 1
Published on August 26, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, Ill. - The Kane County Cougars, Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, open a three-game homestand Sunday afternoon and will welcome the Beloit Snappers (Oakland Athletics affiliate). Homestand highlights include a Kids Eat Free game on Sunday and Fan Appreciation Nights on Monday and Tuesday with complimentary reserved and lawn seat tickets for fans. Tickets are available for the upcoming homestand by calling (630) 232-8811 or ordering online at kccougars.com.
Sunday 8/30 Beloit Snappers (Oakland Athletics farm team) 4 p.m. (gates open at 3 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (3:45 p.m.)
- Sunday Funday presented by Dave and Buster's
- Kids Eat Free Day - free hot dog and soda voucher for all children age 3-10
- Free family-friendly entertainment inside the ballpark
- Live organ music by Nancy Faust
- Pre-game Team Illinois Cheer Performance
- National Anthem - Parkland Middle School (McHenry)
- Pre-game autograph session with Cougars players
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Monday 8/31 Beloit Snappers 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
- Fan Appreciation Night - complimentary reserved or lawn seat tickets
- National Anthem - Tom Kirkland
- Pre-game performance by South Elgin HS Marching Band
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Tuesday 9/1 Beloit Snappers 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
- Fan Appreciation Night - complimentary reserved or lawn seat tickets
- Bark in the Park
- Pre-game dog parade at 5:50 PM
- Dogs and fans can run the bases after the game
Homestand Notes
Fan Appreciation Nights to include free tickets: As a silver anniversary season thank-you to Cougars fans, all reserved and lawn seat tickets for the Monday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 1 games are free. Tickets are limited and fans are encouraged to order in advance by calling (630) 232-8811 or ordering online at kccougars.com. Both games are at 6:30 PM.
Bark in the Park: Bark in the Park will take place on Tuesday, September 1 at 6:30 PM. That evening, dogs are admitted for free on the first base lawn seating area. Regulations from the Kane County Health Department require that fans must have their dogs contained to the first base lawn area and are not allowed on the concourse. Fans with dogs must enter through Gate 1 beginning at 5:30 PM when gates open. Fans and their dogs can participate in a pre-game parade on the field at approximately 5:45 PM and fans (with their dogs) can run the bases following the game. Water and dog restroom stations will be available near the first base lawn seating area.
A day for the entire family: Sunday's 4 PM game is a Sunday Funday presented by Dave and Buster's. All kids ages 3-10 will receive a free hot dog and soda voucher. Fans can participate in a pre-game autograph session with the team at 3:30 PM and unlimited use wristbands for the Cougars' KidZone attractions are just $5. Fans will also be treated to live music by ballpark organist Nancy Faust.
Team/Alumni Notes
Kane County continues to maintain its first place position in the Midwest League's Western Division with a second half record of 38-19. However, Peoria has closed the gap and only trail the Cougars by two games with 13 games remaining. A win against Beloit this evening would guarantee a playoff berth for the Cougars. Entering play this evening, the Cougars must win 10 of their 13 remaining games to break the franchise record for most wins in one half of a season. That record was set by the 2001 Cougars which went 47-21 in the first half on their way towards winning the MWL championship. The Cougars are now 74-51 and if the team can win at least six more games, Kane County would have won 80 or more games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003-2004. Last season's team won a franchise-record 91 regular season games on their way towards winning the Midwest League championship. The Cougars lead the league with a .273 team batting average and are second in the 16-team circuit with a 3.00 team ERA. Pitcher Brad Keller is 2nd in the Midwest League with a 2.51 ERA. A trio of Cougars are among the top 10 league hitters in batting average: Marty Herum (.305, 3rd), Victor Reyes (.302, 4th) and Colin Bray (.294, T-10th). Herum's 73 RBI are 3rd- best in the league. Closer Zac Curtis leads Minor League Baseball with 29 saves.
Seattle outfielder Nelson Cruz ('03) is first in the major leagues with 38 home runs and sixth with a .317 batting average. San Francisco pitcher Santiago Casilla ('03-'04) and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Huston Street ('04) each have 30 saves. Detroit infielder Miguel Cabrera ('01) is batting .371 in 88 games this season. Cubs catcher Kyle Schwarber ('14) is batting .275 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI. Pittsburgh pitcher Joe Blanton ('03) is 3-0 with a 0.59 ERA in seven relief appearances since being traded from Kansas City. San Diego pitcher Tyson Ross ('08) has a 3.32 ERA in 26 starts. Oakland pitcher Sean Doolittle ('07) recently returned to big league action for the first time since May 27 after suffering a shoulder injury.
Pitcher Trevor Cahill ('07) was recently signed by the Cubs to a minor league deal and in two games at Triple-A Iowa, has tossed four scoreless relief innings. I-Cubs teammate Armando Rivero ('13) has a 3.35 ERA in 43 relief appearances. Outfielder Brett Eibner ('11) is batting .305 with 18 home runs and 70 RBI at Triple-A Omaha (Kansas City). Catcher Willson Contreras ('13) is batting .328 with 8 home runs and 70 RBI at Double-A Tennessee (Cubs). Tennessee pitcher Pierce Johnson ('13-'14) is 6-2 with a 2.22 ERA in 14 starts while teammate Starling Peralta ('13) has a 2.05 ERA in 34 relief appearances. Pitcher Andrew Triggs ('12) has a 1.14 ERA in 38 outings with Double-A Bowie (Baltimore). Pitcher Kyle Zimmer ('12) has a 2.75 ERA in 13 appearances at Double-A Northwest Arkansas (Kansas City). Class-A Myrtle Beach continues to include many players from the Cougars' 2014 championship team. Infielder Chesny Young ('14) is batting .329 in 91 games while teammate Mark Zagunis ('14) is batting .279 with 8 home runs and 53 RBI. Myrtle Beach pitcher Paul Blackburn ('14) has a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts. Tyler Skulina ('13-'14) has a 3.29 ERA in 13 starts, Jonathan Martinez ('14) has a 2.72 ERA in 20 starts and Jen-Ho Tseng ('14) has a 3.55 ERA in 21 starts. Myrtle Beach reliever Michael Heesch ('13-'14) has a 2.15 ERA in 30 appearances. (Statistics through 8/25)
Midwest League Stories from August 26, 2015
- Chiefs Win Series in Cedar Rapids, Magic Number is 1 - Peoria Chiefs
- TinCaps Break Franchise Record with 16th Consecutive Home Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Bees Lose Finale; Series to Rattlers - Burlington Bees
- Snappers' Winning Streak Snaps at Five - Beloit Sky Carp
- Wisconsin tops Burlington 6-2 to win series - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- TinCaps Sweep Away Lugnuts, 3-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cougars Qualify for Playoffs with Win - Kane County Cougars
- LumberKings Drop Final Meeting of the Season with Quad Cities - Clinton LumberKings
- Stewart's Late Heroics Push Whitecaps Past Cubs - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Chiefs Claim Series with 7-5 Win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Loons Drop Series to Hot Rods - Great Lakes Loons
- West Michigan Scores Late to Down South Bend, 4-3 - South Bend Cubs
- Hot Rods Clinch Series Victory, Defeat Great Lakes, 6-4 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- LumberKings Return Home for the Final Time in 2015 - Clinton LumberKings
- Dragons Split Doubleheader on Wednesday at Lake County - Dayton Dragons
- Captains Split Day with Dragons - Lake County Captains
- TinCaps Game Notes: August 26 vs. Lansing (Game 126) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Zoo Night at Parkview Field Set for August 29 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: August 30-September 1 - Kane County Cougars
- Ethan Mildren promoted to Fort Myers - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- TinCaps Release 2016 Season Schedule - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- LumberKings Blank Bandits to Answer Shutout - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Kuhn, Raga Lead Snappers Past Cougars - Beloit Sky Carp
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.
