Salem…The game was settled almost before the people could sit down in their seats. The Salem Spartans sent nine batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring five runs on five hits and stole three bases enroute to a 10-0 Conference 24 semifinal game.

The Cougars started the game hitting in the top of the first. Jon Osteen hit a liner over the second baseman. His older brother Grant then hit a screamer on a hit and run that the shortstop dove behind second base and flipped to the second baseman. He then threw it to first for a double play. Andrew Lowe singled as did Camden Underwood who went to second on the throw to third. Salem third baseman then threw to second apparently to throw out Underwood at second. So the Cougars had three hits and a fourth ball that was scorched and had nothing to show for it.

The Spartans then hit the Cougars with their five spot which took a lot of the air out of them. Salem would tack on three more runs in the second as Jacob Dodd singled, stole second and third. Joseph Quinn walked and stole second. Noah Beckley then hit a gapper to left center that plated both of them. John Stover then doubled him in and the route was on.

The Cougars, after the second inning, collected only two hits as Salem pitcher Trevor Austin settled down. Nathanael Remington was two for two to lead the Cougars who just couldn’t get the big hit or a big break. Tyler Waddell, Jon Osteen, Andrew Lowe, Camden Underwood and Hunter Shrewsbury all had one hit each. Shrewsbury was the starting and losing pitcher as he deserved better, but it wasn’t meant to be on this night in Salem.

Salem (13-7) will advance to the Conference 24 championship and also get a regional berth with the win. Beckley was two of three at the plate, scored twice and knocked in four big runs. Stover had two RBIs on a three for three performance and scored twice. Austin went all five innings scattering seven hits. He walked no one and struck out just one.

Cougar head coach Jared King said, ”Give Salem credit; they came out super aggressive. They stole, what, eight bases in the game? They took advantage of some mental mistakes we made. I didn’t think we played badly.” Coach then added, “I told my guys after the game baseball can be a cruel game sometimes. We hit two balls right on the nose and they turn both of them into double plays. We hit three or four others that were right at them. They made plays! We just couldn’t buy a break. They scored early and we didn’t answer them and the score makes it look worse than what it was. That’s baseball.“

Coach King was then asked about Grant Osteen playing his last game as a Cougar and he replied, “Grant is going to be missed. I hate it for him on how this ended. He’s everything we talk about. He’s tough mentally, a team player, a tough-minded kid. He’s as tough a kid we have coached. He’s a warrior.”

So the Cougars finish the season with a 9-11-1 record. The most wins in Coach King’s three years in a season. They have lot of kids returning. They will have to find some more consistency. The most consistent thing about this year’s team was its inconsistency. The pitching needs to be better. They need to hold runners on better. Cougar catchers need to work more on throwing runners out. Salem stole eight bases in this game today and all of them scored! They need as a team to make less mental mistakes and make more baseball plays. Seniors Grant Osteen and Tyler Vaughan will be missed. With a few breaks this season the record could have been better. It’s the old should of, could of, but didn’t.

 

 

 

R H E LOB

 

Pulaski Co. 0 7 1 4

Salem 10 10 3 2

 

Pulaski Co. – LP- Shrewsbury ( 2-1)

Salem – WP- Austin