The Cyclones managed to outlast a gritty Cougars team (who have added some players who will show the Cougars mean business in 2019) with a 7-3 win at Watervliet High School on Saturday.

Sherwin So got the Cyclones season off to a good start by leading off the top of the first with a single to center and a Bret Sentiwany walk followed. A double steal on the next pitch allowed an RBI groundout by Jeremy Jarvis and the Cyclones led 1-0. A subsequent RBI groundout by John Coulombe made it 2-0 after the top of the first inning.

The Cougars immediately got one run back on two singles, a walk and an error which plated new Cougar Eric Sundwall for a 2-1 Cyclones lead after one inning of play.

The Cyclones had a pair of hits but did not score in the second inning and the Cougars were able to tie the game in the bottom of the second when another new Cougar, Carlo Beleci led off with a single coming around to score with two outs on three straight singles by Rob Lutz, Dane Dostie and Tim Dannhey leaving the score 2-2 for a few innings.

Both pitchers settled in after early troubles carrying the 2-2 tie through to the fifth inning. Cougars starter Eric Sundwall scattered a few hits around and got a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth while Cyclones starter Bill Farrell managed much the same way with 1-2-3 innings in the 3rd and 5th.

The Cyclones broke the tie in the fifth when Bill Farrell led off with a walk and the run scored on a booming double to a very deep right-center field at Watervliet High School by Jeremy Jarvis; 3-2 Cyclones.

The Cyclones struck again in the 6th on a rocket off the bat of Bill Ashline which nearly made it out of Watervliet High School but ended up a double. Ashline would score with one out on a sharp single to left off the bat of Jim Denney and the Cyclones led 4-2. Despite another hit and stolen base, the Cougars staved off any further scoring to keep the game close.

The Cougars scratched a run across in the 6th with a walk to Rick Saidenberg, a subsequent stolen base and then an RBI single by Bill Galka making it 4-3 going into the 7th.

The Cyclones would pull away with three runs in the 7th when Cougars starter Eric Sundwall started to tire and took advantage of three walks, an error and two hits (and a very strange runners interference call... ) leaving the score at the eventual 7-3 final.

On the day, the Cyclones had some good numbers to report:

Sherwin So went 2-for-4; 2 R; 2 SB
Jeremy Jarvis went 2-for-2; 2B, SF, SAC; 3 RBI
Bill Ashline went 1-for-2; 2 R; 2B; BB, HBP; 4 SB; RBI
Todd Breen went 2-for-4; 2B; ROE

Additional RBIs provided by John Coulombe, Gibby Travis and Jim Denney.

Bill Farrell went the distance for the Cyclones earning the win. 7 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 4 BB, 3 K, CG (W).

Up next for both teams doesnt get easier. The Cyclones play a very tough Yankees squad at 12:30 at Watervliet High School and the Cougars get their shot at the two-time defending champion Bombers at 10:00 am at New Scotland.

Many thanks to the Cougars for a great game and for those Cougars who came to Arsenal City Tavern afterwards. Good group of guys Frank has!