Cougars give inspired effort against Lions

The three county teams were the only representatives of the tourney, after several schools cancelled during the past few weeks. The Cougars won because of its total run total for the two- game round-robin.

‘‘To win the Robbie Seidel trophy in front of all of those fans was great,” Catoctin head coach Mike Franklin said. ‘‘Most importantly, the tournament kept Robbie Seidel’s name out there. He was great kid who played for our program and died in battle in Iraq.”

Returning all of his starters from last season’s talented, but inconsistent outfit that finished 7-14 overall, he knew a win was needed against the Lions.

Last season’s All-Gazette selections Justin Albright and Kyle Sanders were instrumental in their team’s recovery. Albright came out of the bullpen to toss 2 2⁄3 innings of one hit ball. Promoting his own cause, he also went (2-for-2) and scored five runs.

Sanders was a home run away from hitting for the cycle Monday. Driving in five runs, he collected a double and a triple and appears well on his way to eclipsing last season’s total of 15 runs batted in. Dan Miller also had three RBI.

‘‘We have played clean, thrown strikes, and played hit the ball well in all of them except the opening game against Urbana,” Cougars head coach Mike Franklin said. ‘‘We didn’t do much right in that game.”

Franklin is already talking playoffs. He knows the Cougars have a long road in front of them but never misses an opportunity to groom his team for their important series of big games.

‘‘I think the tournament prepares us for the [Class 1A West Region] playoffs,” Franklin said.

‘‘I enjoy playing larger, well-coached, schools to challenge ourselves. Including the preseason we have played Class 3A and 4A schools including Martinsburg (WV), [whose] pitcher is headed to University of Tennessee.”