Cougars punish faded Footscray

By Gavin Staindl
BERWICK Cougars coach Mick Poole said the 30-3 win over Footscray was the most convincing win he has been apart of in his 31 years of baseball involvement.
The Cougars claimed their second win for the season after an “embarrassing” Sunday at Hanks Reserve.
“I feel bad for them, I really do,” Poole said. “There are guys playing out there who were playing in Footscray’s A Grade team 15 years ago, they should be in Division Four … but you can’t knock their effort,” he said.
The Cougars led 3-2 after the first inning but when the runs started pouring in the second inning the game turned into a manhandling.
Everyone managed at least two hits with all but one player hitting three or more.
After taking a nine-run lead the Cougars stopped stealing and bunting meaning the last 18 runs came directly from hits.
Cougars starter Matt Rossman allowed three unearned runs through four innings and when Rowan Phillips came on in the fifth inning, Footscray failed to advance a runner past second base.
The game was called off after seven innings.
“You can’t take much out of a game like that. You can only beat who you’re playing but I guess a few guys who struggled early in the season will have some more confidence after getting a few hits,” Poole said.