By Craig Lynch –
Much of the Midwest had been shivering through a long, cold Spring in April. The Kane County Cougars are no exception. The Cougars did not play their second home game until Tuesday, April 24. Their schedule was affected. In one series they were scheduled to play the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Appleton, Wis. but the games had to be moved to Peoria.
“We were glad we were able to play there,” said first-year manager Blake Lalli. “There weren’t many fans in the stands, but we got in the games.”
The Cougars have remained competitive despite playing in harsh conditions and experiencing numerous postponed games.
Cougars infielder Joey Rose hails from Toms River, N. J., the home of Todd Frazier, former White Sox third baseman.
“I had never spent any time in the Midwest,” Rose said. “Last year I played in Mezoula (Montana) and that was a hitters league. It gets cold at home, but nothing like this (cold for Cougars’ home games).”
Lalli played for three teams in the National League. He was a catcher for the Chicago Cubs in 2012.
“My first big league hit came off Astros pitcher Wilton Lopez,” he said last week after a home game in 40 degree weather.
He caught for the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers. He is a first-year manager and he enjoys the challenge.
“We’re about development, but we’re trying to win,” he said. “We are trying to get these young guys in the proper frame of mind to compete.”
Through Sunday, the Cougars’ won-loss record was 10-11, tied for fifth place in the eight-team Western Division with Peoria. The Cougars were 2-6 in home games and 8-5 in road games.
First baseman Yoel Yanqui was hitting .257 through Sunday with six runs batted in and Luis Alejandro Basabe was hitting .368 with 14 walks.
No Cougars pitcher had more than victory though Sunday. Cole Stapler had pitched 22 innings and his earned run average was 1.64.
The Cougars will return home Monday, May 7 to play two series, against Lake County and Fort Wayne.
