For the Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — Good things come to those who wait.
At least that’s what the Greenfield-Central Cougars were hoping for as their season finally began eight days past their first scheduled game. And on a frigid 39-degree day, the Cougars split a doubleheader with Hoosier Heritage Conference foe New Castle. The Cougars won the first game 7-0 and dropped the second 3-2.
“It felt great to finally get outside and play,” Cougars coach Robbie Miller said. “We’ve been waiting a week and were ready to go even though it was cold.”
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryThe Cougars got the season off to a quick start by plating three runs in the first inning with some help from a Trojan error. With two outs, Braxton Turner hit a groundball to the third baseman, but the ball went under the Trojan’s glove and one run scored. With the inning still alive, Seth Robertson hit a 2 RBI single to give the Cougars an early lead.
That was all the Cougars would need as it turned out, as junior Blake Wilson had the Trojans off balance all afternoon. Aside from two infield singles in the second inning, New Castle was unable to muster a hit and only hit the ball out of the infield three times. Junior Bradley McDowell pitched the last two innings to give the Cougars a 7-0 win in the first game.
“Those guys really came out ready to pitch,” Miller said.
In game two, luck went against the Cougars. Despite throwing nine strikeouts and allowing only four hits, sophomore Adam Hutchison came out a tough-luck losing pitcher in a close 3-2 game.
The Trojans scored two runs in the fourth inning after an RBI single by Logan Cline — one pitch following a pitch that looked to be strike three. The umpire called it a ball and the Trojans were suddenly leading.
The Cougars entered the 7th inning trailing 3-1. Noah Ramsey came up with men on first and third and hit a double to the gap in right-center field. One run came in, and Miller held up the runner coming around third. The Trojans intentionally walked Adam Hutchison, but Nick Atwood rocketed a ball directly to the shortstop for the final out.
Saturday’s outcomes gave the Cougars’ a 1-1 overall record and 1-1 start in the HHC.
