By TJ Meyers
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – The Camden County College Cougars pitched their way past Brookdale, 5-1, on Wednesday.
While the Cougars only mustered up six hits in the game, they all seemed to come with runners on base. The 2:30 p.m. start time was delayed by the late arrival of the umpires, but that had no bearing on the Cougars’ pitching staff, who scattered four hits and mixed in a couple of strikeouts in seven innings of work.
The Cougars’ first and second runs came in the bottom of the first via an RBI single through the hole at second base and a balk with runners on first and third. That was all Coach Ken Bouillon’s team would need and they never looked back. It wouldn’t come easy, however. In the top of the sixth, following two base knocks, a wild pitch and a walk, Broookdale had loaded up the bases with no one out. A second walk in the inning forced in Brookdale’s only run.
The four-run lead, which came in the bottom of the fourth from a two-RBI double down the third base line, was put in jeopardy, however, when Brookdale’s number two hitter stepped to the plate. Still with no outs and the bases loaded, the hitter turned on a fastball and hit what would have been, if it had stayed fair, the game-tying grand slam. The Cougars’ crafty lefty, though, was able to bear down and get him to pop out and followed it up with consecutive strikeouts.
Although the Cougars made two errors in the game, the defense looked sharp. The team looks confident heading into regionals and with a game like Wednesday’s, you have to believe the Cougars will be a tough matchup for anyone. While they only ended up with six hits. Bouillon’s boys were putting the ball in play all game long, forcing Brookdale’s defense to make the plays.
Rain started to fall in the last couple of innings and really started coming down in what seemed like seconds after the final out was recorded. It wouldn’t dampen the spirits of the Cougars, however, as they exchanged celebratory handshakes after the groundout to third that ended the game. Coming off Wednesday’s complete game performance, as well as the run support, the Cougars are looking to make an impact at regionals.