Cougars end season at divisional

Although it was a 12-8 bittersweet loss for the Noxon Cougars against the Columbia Falls Hills Brothers last Tuesday in Libby, what a spectacular season for the Cougars. The fact that the rural team made up of Noxon, Trout Creek and Heron boys ages 13-15 made it so far despite facing bigger schools shows what these boys are made of, only losing by four points to the second seed Hills Brothers team in the Babe Ruth Glacier League.

Coach Wesley Tucker said that a major factor to the loss was that the team had 13 defensive errors, five in the first inning, adding, "that is baseball." Their goal was only to make two defensive errors. Another spoke in the wheel was the fact that because of an injury, the team was without their best player and third baseman, Justice Kayser. Tucker said that baseball is a very mental game and a very humbling game. He told his team that they have to hit all the bases, including defense, offense and pitching to win a game.

Tucker said they did great when it came to firing up the bat, with Shane Hatchel and Sheldon Frank cracking triples.

He said that the pitching was spot on, too, with the "Mity-Mite" twins, Arrow and Asher Cramer, throwing strikes for four innings and then Tayton Evans, "Mr. Reliable," coming in to pitch the fifth and sixth innings to strike out five out of eight batters. "He shut them down," said Tucker.

"I am extremely proud of these young men and what they accomplished this year. They all knew we were a better team but just didn't play our game. They are hungrier for next year knowing we can compete with these bigger teams and have the hunger to grow," said Tucker.

The Cougars got to end their season with a trip to Spokane on Saturday to watch a Minor League game: the Spokane Indians against the Eugene Emeralds. The Cougars also got to fraternize with the Indians after the game and were given signed baseballs.

The National Babe Ruth Headquarters changed the age group, so instead of 13-15 year olds playing together it will be 13-16 next year. Tucker said that since the strength of his team is anchored around his 15-year-olds, they will be unstoppable. They also may have to have try-outs because of all the enthusiasm the boys have to play ball. Another factor next season would be if Thompson Falls and Noxon co-op to have a high school team, which is a possibility.