Printer Friendly Version - Shoreline Cougars See Streak Snapped, but Still Take Two of Three

Haddam-Killingworth student Ross Meglin and the Shoreline Cougars AAU baseball team saw their nine-game win streak get snapped by the Connecticut Capitals, although the team came back to beat the Capitals in the back end of the doubleheader.Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Source

The Shoreline Cougars 18-U AAU baseball team won two of its three games this past week and is now 12-3-1 on the year, currently standing in second place in its division.

On July 10, the Cougars pushed their winning streak to nine-straight games with a come-from-behind 8-6 victory over the Connecticut Outlaws. With his team trailing 6-3 in the top of the seventh inning, Pat O’Leary got the rally started with a walk that was followed by a single from Haddam-Killingworth’s Jon Grasso. Justin Popp of HK then walked to load the bases for former Valley Regional player Evan Makowicki, who belted a game-tying double. Makowicki later scored the game-winning run and Curtis Fetteroll added an insurance run. O’Leary closed out the game on the mound for the save in the 8-6 triumph.

“We just have fun playing the game. The kids never gave up. The knew the whole time they could win,” said Head Coach Dennis Annicelli. “Evan is a such good kid it’s great to see him come up big. He’s always was smiling ear to ear. Really proud of the boys. They make this so much fun to coach. I’m feel like I’m back playing.”

Later in the week, the Cougars saw their win streak snapped with a 7-1 loss at the Connecticut Capitals in the front end of a doubleheader. Luke Bauer of HK got the start and gave up five runs in five innings. HK’s Ross Meglin pitched two shutout innings in relief. Popp had an RBI single to score Meglin for the Cougars’ only run.

“It was a 9 a.m. game and it seemed to take a bit for the guys to wake up. We need to be better,” Annicelli said. “[I] told the kids they can’t get complacent.”

In game two, Shoreline got back on the winning track with an 8-0 victory. The Cougars were led by former Valley Regional pitcher Nash Eppard, who had 12 strikeouts and only allowed two hits in a six-inning, complete game effort as the mercy rule was called into effect. Popp and Meglin each had two RBI and scored twice for the Cougars.

“Game two was the team I know and have come to love. Tons of energy, great pitching, and aggressive at the plate,” Annicelli said. “I can say again and again how good Nash is, but we all know what he does.”

Old Saybrook’s Scott Masse give a great effort to try and catch a fly ball in a recent game for the Shoreline Cougars, who are 12-3-1 this summer.Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Source