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THE BIG INNING
May 30, 2005 --
The most improbably inning in Cougar history: Bottom of the 5th, May 30,2005, Cougars vs. First State Fury.
Fury 16, Cougars 4
Jonke walks. Hein walks, Jonke to second. Runners advance on a passed ball. Jonke scores on a balk. Fury 16, Cougars 5
Kojac doubles to right, scoring Hein.
Fury 16, Cougars 6
Kojac takes third on a passed ball and is balked home.
Fury 16, Cougars7
After a pitching change, Ferruzzo doubles to -center. Rosenman doubles to center, Ferruzzo to third. Biancanello grounds to third, Ferruzzo scores.
Fury 16, Cougars 8
Carter hits a grounder to third that is booted. Rosenman scores.
Fury 16, Cougars 9
Stickney hits a grounder to third that is thrown away. Carter to third. Carter scores on a balk, Stickney to second.
Fury 16, Cougars 10
Schuster walks. Runners advance on a wild pitch. Jonke singles to left, scoring Stickney and Schuster.
Fury 16, Cougars 12
Hein singles to third. Fielder throws ball away in attempt to throw out Hein. Kojac grounds to second. Ball is booted. Bases loaded for Ferruzzo. Ferruzzo singles to right, scoring Jonke and Hein, Kojac to third.
Fury 16, Cougars 14
Ferruzzo steals second. Rosenman singles to center, scoring Kojac and Ferruzzo.
Fury 16, Cougars 16
Biancanello singles to center, Rosenman to third. Carter singles to third; fielder throws ball away in attempt to get Carter. Rosenman scores, Biancanello to second.
Cougars 17, Fury 16
Stickney grounds into a fielders choice for the second out (Biancanello forced at third). Runners advance on a passed ball. Schuster singles to Center, scoring Carter and Stickney.
Cougars 19, Fury 16
Jonke flies to left to end the inning.
15 runs, 10 hits, three balks, four Fury errors. Nineteen men to the plate.
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COUGARS NJBL CHAMPS
August 10, 2000 --
8/10/00: Smithtown News Page 22
COMMACK COUGARS SHOW NO MERCY
CLAIM FIRST NJBL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Commack Cougars , a baseball team of 11 year olds, steamrolled their way July 30 to to the National Junior Baseball League Championship with a 16-1 season finale victory.
For teh fourth consecutive game, the Cougars mercy-ruled their opponents with some lively bats,strong pitching and solid defense to claim the under 11 division crown.
The Cougars (12-1) avenged their only loss of the season a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Elmont- by beating the same squad 3-0 in the awaited rematch. As for the rest of the league, the Cougars have outscored their opponents 144-19 while becoming comfortable with a new field at Commack Middle School.
The team-which formed two and a half years ago holds a 79-26 career record,including their first championship during indoor play at Play Ball in Hauppauge. Last year, the Cougars took two second place finishes in the NJBL and earned a trip to Disney World for the Fun and Sun Baseball Bash in Orlando, Florida.
The Cougars now have their sights set on winning the Labor Day Weekend Tournament in Brookhaven. In addition, the young athletes must adapt to a higher division next year with 75-foot bases rather than the little league standard 60-foot bases and some rule changes that include stealing bases.
In preparation for the upcoming season the Cougars have been involved in some intense clinic sessions under the direction of Nassau Community College baseball skipper Larry Minor.
-S.Forstner
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Disney or Bust
6/22/00: THE SMITHTOWN NEWS Page 23
DESTINATION DISNEY OR BUST
COUGARS COMPETE IN FLORIDA,MEET WITH LI DUCKS
Just about everything was working to prevent the Commack Cougars travel baseball team from making Disney's Sun and Fun Baseball Bash in Orlando, Florida.
While his 11-year old players were all hoping things would work out and they would get there in time, skipper Mark Rosenman felt like he was taking a Griswald family vacation and the team hadn't even left the state yet.
The 13-member squad along with their parents and coaches Rosenman,Phil Apps,Leith Baren and Mike Vogel were set to leave from Macarthur Airport in Islip Thursday May 25 on a 3:45 flight or so they thought.
The first obstacle arose when Rosenman's phone rang at 10 am. It was a player's parent notifying him that they called the airport and their flight had been canceled due to mechanical problems to the aircraft.
This posed a major problem because the team needed to sign in for the tournament the next morning Friday, May 26 by 8 am or else they would not be able to compete. Rosenman immediately telephoned the airlines, only to find out that there were no other flights departing out of MacAthur Airport to Orlando, Florida.
After explaining his dilemma and the fact that 13 kids would be heartbroken if they did not make the trip-which included two day passes to the theme park and lodging at the Disney All-Star Resort-their problem was solved for the moment when Delta Airlines agreed to upsize a plane leaving from Newark at 7 pm that same night to accommodate them.
Although the plans changed,they were on their way. So a little later they hopped on a bus and headed to New Jersey. But once again, a boundary stood in their path-the bus was stuck in a Major traffic jam at the Holland Tunnel with an hour until take-off.
"The kids on the bus just knew we were going to get there," said Rosenman, who phoned the airlines to let them know they were running late.
Or the players were just playing it cool as third baseman/pitcher Josh Rosenman said, " I didn't think we were going to make it. It was tough but it was worth it"
And first baseman Greg Hein added" I was feeling sick because I was worried we weren't going to make it."
Just like a happy ending scripted in the movies, the Cougars arrived at Newark Airport in the Nick of time-15 minutes prior to departure-and were off to sunny Florida.
Rosenman was able to register the group-which would face perhaps the biggest challenge of all. While the other teams,most of which were from the south,were used to playing in 90-plus degree weather, the Cougars were not. In addition, the competition allowed leading off bases and stealing, something the Cougars never dealt with on Long Island.
"It really wasn't like Long Island" Josh said. " We were taking a drink every 5 seconds. The other teams were used to that,but we're not"
The Cougars-which hold a 67-25 overall record in 2 1/2 years of playing together-may have gone down there to win,but 4 hard fought losses against kids that play all year round was more of a learning and growth experience then anything.
" We were competitive down there. It's really an eye-opener.The way the kids have handled themselves on the field is different(since competing in Florida) Everything has been different even though we didn't win a game" said coach Rosenman, whose squad finished it spring season 9-5 in the NJBL and goes right into summer league play this Saturday. "The experience was great they've know each other for a while but until you spend4 days, 24 hours a day, yu don't quite bond like that"
Reflecting his father's sentiments Josh said" It was really fun hanging out with the team,going to the park and doing things together,but it was upsetting to lose"
It was only a month ago that the same Commack Cougars became the first ever Dream Team in Long Island Ducks history as they took the field April 30 with the Ducks Players. Fresh from a league game, the Cougars went to Eab park in Central Islip and met with the Ducks-who signed autographs. tehn Each Cougar took their position alongside a Duck while the National Anthem was sung.
"It was great," said Greg,who talked with the first baseman and asked him what it was like to play for the Ducks and to play pro baseball."I said thank you and shook his hand"
During the game the team sat out by the bullpen area and conversed with the Ducks. It was all the doing of their coach. Rosenman-who also enters the team n tournaments across the country by using an internet web-site set up for that reason-contacted the franchise's public relations department and got his players on the field.
"It was an ice thing,really nice. This team is a great group of kids," said Rosenman" The whole idea is to keep them happy. We're just about kids having fun,learning the basics and getting better,and knowing what a team is all about..the goal os to see the kids play at the junior high and high school level"
Right after the summer league concludes, Rosenman has teh Cougars competing in a July Tournament in Philadelphia,where they will also take in a Phillies game. In the works is a trip to Camden Yards in Baltimore before the fall season opens in September.
" They have stayed together. Even though some got offers from other teams,they stayed together" Rosenman said" When we first started the team, I told them,"they're Cougars as long as they want to be" We plan on playing a lot of out of state teams"
Looking ahead to the new season Rosenman said"This team,as good as they have played,they're still yet to hit their peak. We know at their age group,there is no team on Long Island we can't compete with ."
Rosenman also gave credit to the players families,adding "Every weekend not only are the parents,but the grandparents are there.It's standing room only.They know they are part of something special."
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