Three Chris’ Combine To Help Cooper City Edge Western 8-7

Cooper City’s Chris Beaton, Chris Guerra, and Chris Couvillon, combined to go 6-for-12, with three RBIs, and four runs scored to help the Cowboys squeeze past Western in a District 12-6A match up.

After a scoreless first inning, Couvillon singled up the middle, driving in Guerra, who had reached on a single opening the second. Evan Goodwin followed with a single, and a sacrifice moved both runners up. Beaton wasted no time driving in two runs on the first pitch he saw from Western starter Ryan Lindsay, staking Cooper City to an early 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats responded with two runs of their own in their half of the inning. Max Balter smacked an RBI sacrifice fly to center, scoring Russell Hackworth. Two Kyle’s produced the Wildcats other run when Kyle Harrington singled home Kyle Perry, closing the gap to 3-2.

The Cowboys got both runs back in the third after a walk and two singles loaded the bases with two down. Western’s defense, which was sloppy in the first two frames, having committed three harmless errors, finally cost them in the third. Their fourth error of the game allowed two runners to score.

After inducing a double play off the bat of Tommy Caruso, Cowboys reliever Matt Tompkins ran into some trouble. The Wildcats banged out two singles, followed by a Doug Futch double, running the score to 5-3. Tompkins got out of the inning without further harm when he struck out designated hitter Ryan Gabriel.

After extending the lead to 6-3, the Cowboys had an opportunity to put the game away, but left the bases loaded. That pivotal moment left Head Coach Chris Hinely concerned.

“We did squander some opportunities,” said Hinely, after the game.

Western made Cooper City pay in their half of the sixth. The Wildcats erupted for four runs, keyed by Futch’s second RBI double of the game, a Chris Perez two run single, and Hackworth’s go-ahead RBI single.

Guerra opened the seventh with a bloop single to right. Ben Katz, who relieved Lindsay, then hit Couvillon, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Katz threw to more balls to the next batter, Goodwin, and Wildcats Head Coach Sonny Hansley went to his bullpen. Zach Brown was summoned, but fared no better, completing the walk.

Western’s sixth error of the game came at an inopportune time. Bradley Bishop’s at-bat was extended when Harrington failed to secure a foul pop. Bishop then hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 7-7. The go-ahead run for the Cowboys came across soon after, on a wild pitch.

The Wildcats attempted to come from behind again in their final at-bat. Caruso singled up the middle and was sacrificed to second. With one out, Western’s next two batters both grounded to short, ending the comeback, and giving the Cowboys an important 8-7 district win. Jarod Heidt got the win, while Will Vega earned the save for Cooper City.

“We did what we had to do to get a much needed district win,” said Hinely.

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