Cougars Win Slugfest to Attain BCL Semifinals
MEXICO CITY – In one other high-scoring affair, the Kane County Cougars outlasted the Leñadores de Las Tunas of Cuba 19-15 to advance to the Baseball Champions League Americas 2025 Semifinals. The victory accomplished an ideal 2-0 run by way of Group B of the BCL within the spherical robin portion of the match.
After a 16-14 win on Tuesday, right now’s sport featured much more offense. The 2 groups mixed for 34 runs and 42 hits. Shed Lengthy Jr. led the way in which for the Cougars (2-0), ending the day 4-for-6 with a house run, double and 5 RBI. Dayson Croes got here by way of with a four-hit ballgame after his 6-for-6 efficiency within the BCL opener. In complete, six totally different gamers collected at the least three hits for Kane County.
The Cougars jumped out to an enormous lead within the backside of the second. Dealing with Las Tunas (1-1) starter Albert Vallardes, Brantley Bell began the rally with a single by way of the left aspect earlier than Josh Allen labored a stroll. After a fielder’s selection put runners on the corners, Armond Upshaw hit a tough floor ball that was mishandled to deliver house Allen and make it 1-0. Following Upshaw, Lengthy Jr. crushed a mammoth, three-run homer to proper area to make it 4-0. Lengthy’s house run travelled an astounding 471 ft.
Later within the second, the Cougars struck by way of the lengthy ball once more. Following a Max Murphy single, Dillon Thomas belted a two-run shot to proper area to make it a 6-0 lead. Allen capped the scoring within the inning with a two-run bloop double off Keniel Ferraz to provide Kane County an eight-run benefit.
Nonetheless, Las Tunas rapidly responded to the large inning. Yosvany Alcaron acquired Las Tunas on the board with a two-run single off Cougars’ starter Chris Mazza to make it 8-2.
Within the backside of the fourth, the Cougars added to the lead by way of one other massive fly. To guide off the inning, Bell stroked one other single. Two batters later, Hayden Dunhurst homered simply contained in the foul pole down the best area line to provide the Cougars a 10-2 edge.
Following a Las Tunas run within the prime of the fifth, Todd Lott flared an reverse area single that put the Cougars lead again to eight runs at 11-3.
Within the prime of the sixth, Las Tunas responded in an enormous method. The Cuban champions put up eight runs within the inning to tie the sport at 11. Yosvany Alarcorn and Roberto Baldoquin every had two-run doubles earlier than Yordany Alarcorn delivered the tying hit on an RBI single.
The Cougars struck proper again within the backside of the sixth. Dayson Croes acquired the scoring began with an RBI single off Dariel Gongora De La Torre. After Frank Medina entered on the mound, Max Murphy welcomed him with a run-scoring double to make it 13-11. Kane County added another run within the body on a Thomas groundout to go in entrance 14-11.
Las Tunas continued to go punch-for-punch with the Cougars, hanging for 3 within the prime of the seventh. Luis Vicente Mateo cracked a two-run double to proper heart to drag the Leñadores inside a run. Yoelkis Guibert then tied the sport with a single by way of the center that made it 14-14. Daniel Bies (1-0) recorded the ultimate out of the seventh to ship the sport to the stretch degree at 14.
Within the backside of the seventh, the Cougars went again in entrance for good. With runners at first and second, Lengthy Jr. delivered an reverse area double off Medina to place Kane County again forward 16-14. Two batters later, Murphy ripped a triple to heart area to attain Lengthy Jr. and stretch the result in 17-14. The Cougars went on so as to add two extra runs on singles by Thomas and Lott to make it a 19-14 benefit.
Following the five-run inning, Cougars’ reliever Jake Gozzo got here by way of with an enormous prime of the eighth. Aided by a double play, the right-hander labored round a single to toss a scoreless inning and protect the five-run lead. The scoreless inning was the primary half inning and not using a run within the ballgame because the prime of the fourth.
For a second straight sport, George Tsamis turned to Tyler Beardsley to document the ultimate three outs. Though Beardsley surrendered a solo homer to Roel Santos, he retired Rafael Viñales for the ultimate out to safe the 19-15 victory.
The Cougars subsequent take the sector on Saturday, April 12th in a BCL Semifinal Matchup. Reside protection will air on Ryz Community, the Unbeaten Channel, Fubo Sports activities Community and AABaseball.TV.
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Article written by Conor Clingen of the Kane County Cougars
