The CAM Cougars baseball team had a dramatic 8-7 win over the Riverside Bulldogs on Saturday night in the first round of the 1A Substate 2 postseason tournament. The 1st inning saw no runs come in for either side as the bats seemed slow to wake up. Then in the top of the 2nd Riverside scored 2 runs thanks to a 2 RBI single to put them up 2-0. The Cougars then had a 3-run response in the bottom of the 2nd from a Kegan Croghan sac fly, RBI single towards left field by Austin Eblen, and an RBI base hit up center field from Carson Mckee to give CAM their first lead of the day at 3-2. Riverside tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the 3rd with an error thrown towards first, allowing Mason McCready to slide home. The Cougars did gain the lead again in the bottom of the 3rd with a base hit towards second by Lukas James and a mistimed throw towards home, being unable to throw Jack Follmann out. The top of the 4th saw Riverside create another stalemate the with Keaton Rieken brining in the tying run after being hit by a pitch, making it 4-4.

The Bulldogs created space in the top of the 6th, when McCready hit a single at left field to bring Hough home creating a 5-4 lead. The Cougars countered in the bottom of the 6th with an RBI single through Carson McKee and a sac fly via Bradyen Chester give CAM the lead once more at 6-5 as it headed into the 7th. Riverside knew time was running out and witnessed Cole Jeppsen initiate the inning with a single. Kyler Rieken also reached first on a bobbled fielder’s choice to put the go ahead run at 1st base. Two crucial errors from the infield allowed Cole Jeppsen and Kyler Rieken to both get home, putting Riverside up again 7-6. The Cougar’s initial response in the bottom of the 7th was 3 base hits in a row to load the bases. Lukas James took the walk to bring the tying run in at 7-7 and Croghan had the walk off ground hit towards second to give CAM an 8-7 win at home.

Cougars head coach Drew Ticknor explained how Saturday’s win came from his team’s grit.

CAM had multiple players stand out like Carson McKee who went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s and Brayden Chester going 1-4 with a double and RBI. But coach Ticknor respected the way relief pitcher Brody Paulsen got the win for his team pitching 3 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs, 3 hits, 3 strikeouts, and 1 walk.

CAM’s victory in the first round of their substate will have them play Woodbury Central next Tuesday in Moville. It’s a game coach Ticknor will not take lightly.

Riverside’s loss in the post season ends their season at a record of 8-14.