Cougars rally to advance
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EBEN -- It was a high-scoring -- back and forth -- ballgame Tuesday afternoon in an MHSAA District 66 opener between the Superior Central Cougars and Menominee Maroons in Eben.
After seven innings of ball, it was the Cougars' win, 12-9.
Despite playing on their home field in Eben, the Cougars were designated the visiting team and the Maroons home.
"It's just good to get the win," said Cougars head coach Walt Smith. "That first inning was bad. We had five or six miscues there that cost us six runs right out of the gate. We hadn't been doing that the last couple weeks. We've been playing pretty clean."
After scoring four to open the game, the Cougars allowed six Menominee runs in the bottom of the first. Smith, however, was happy the team stuck with things and battled back.
"But they didn't go in the tank. That's what I'm happy about … They came back, hit when they needed to and scored twelve runs. I'll take twelve runs every time out."
Tied at eight, Superior Central put together two solid final innings -- outscoring Menominee 4-1 -- to seal the deal.
Kyle Frusti started things with hit a lead-off double to start the sixth. With Frusti in scoring position, Dakota Maki smacked a ball deep into the outfield for a triple.
Dakota Maki made it home off a Zach Frusti single.
The only Menominee run in the last two innings came courtesy of Brady Waara who was batted in by Michael Hensley.
In the seventh, Josh Price crossed the plate when Parker Maki hit a single past Zach Starzynski at short while Matt McLaury was ushered in by a Hayden Rockwill singe.
Rockwill started the game for the Cougars and pitched through four innings while striking out three Maroons. Parker Maki -- who earned the win -- pitched the last three for Superior Central and had four strikeouts.
"They did (a good job)," said Smith. "Hayden pitched through the adversity of (the first inning) and that showed maturity. He's only a sophomore, so I was real happy seeing how he did.
"Parker came in, and he's really learned how to pitch a lot this year. His speeds change constantly. He's probably got four different speeds he throws. He's even got a couple different delivery points he uses… He's really learned how to pitch. He's not a thrower at all, he's a pitcher."
The Cougars pair of Parker Maki (2-5) and Zach Frusti (2-4) had two RBIs apiece. Rockwill, Kyle Frusti, Dakota Maki, Blake Walther, Billy Crisp and Josh Price all had one.
For the Maroons, Zach Starzynski started on the mound and pitched through the opening three innings. He had six strikeouts.
Carter Berger came in in the fourth and finished the game for Menominee. He had two strikeouts.
Hensley (2-4) led Menominee in RBIs with three. Dawson Allgeyer, Ben Powell and Waara all had one.
"It was a good battle," said Menominee coach John Beyer. "Both teams got out early and kind of went back and forth. But I didn't see any quit in the Cougars and didn't see any quit in us. So, overall, I think the effort was good."
Beyer noted the performance of his two senior pitchers Starzynski and Berger.
"They really gave it their all," he said. "I think it was a good way for them to go out … I'm proud of those guys."
After a year off, Beyer said being able to play this year was a big deal.
"That was huge," he said. "I think what everybody dealt with was last time our juniors played they were freshmen and you could see that a little bit.
"But, just to get the excitement, the camaraderie, back was huge."
As the Marrons wrap things up, the Cougars get ready to host a slew of games Friday as they battle the Manistique Emeralds while the Gladstone Braves face the Newberry Indians in Eben.
The winners of those games will face off for the District 66 Championship.