Cougars Battle It Out

By Justin Gottschalk
MOUNTAINDALE — August 1, 2000 – The race for supremacy in the Northern League’s Eastern Conference South Division is heating up.
The Catskill Cougars found themselves just half a game back of the division-leading New Jersey Jackals as of Monday, after going 2-2 to end the week.
None of the four division teams is out of the race, however, as the gap between first-place New Jersey (6–7 second half) and last-place Allentown (6–9) stands at a mere game.
Thursday’s first game was a 9-3 win for the Cougars (6–8) , as they finished up their series against the Waterbury Spirit with a doubleheader. Right fielder Ryan Pond broke open the game with a bases-loaded triple in the first.
RBI singles by left fielder Nelson Abreu and catcher Guye Senjem, also in the first, put Catskill ahead 6-0. This turned out to be all the cushion winning pitcher Jody Treadwell (4–3) needed, as he went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs.
The second half of the doubleheader went the other way, with Waterbury defeating Catskill 4-1. Catcher Robert DeFabia’s RBI single in the second wasn’t enough to stop the Spirit’s offense, as they scored two runs in both the third and fifth innings. Waterbury pitcher Finley Woodward (4–3) went 6 strong, giving up only one run.
Friday’s game with the Elmira Pioneers also went against the Cougars, this time by a score of 10-3. Elmira first baseman Greg Shepard hit a grand slam to cap off the Pioneers’ six-run sixth, placing the game out of reach for Catskill.
The game had been knotted at 3-3 until this frame. Catskill’s runs all came on a homer by catcher Guye Senjem in the second inning. Cougars pitching allowed 14 walks in the course of the game.
Saturday saw a reversal of fortune for the Cougars, as they squeaked by Elmira by a score of 4-3.
The game was tied in the ninth when first baseman Rafael Martinez hit a one-out bases-loaded single to win the game for Catskill.
Reliever Chet Chambliss (2–2) got the victory, but starting pitcher John Challinor was masterful, allowing just one earned run in 7 innings of work. Catskill got production from nearly everybody, as eight separate players accounted for the Cougars’ eight hits.
Sunday’s game was postponed due to rain. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on August 29.
Catskill travels north of the border on Wednesday to play a three game set against the Quebec Capitals.
They return to Baxter Stadium on Sunday, August 6 to face off with the division-leading New Jersey Jackals.