With a 5-3 victory over the Winnipeg Goldeyes, the Kane County Cougars swept their option to the Miles Wolff Cup Championship. The Cougars (7-0) accomplished a magical undefeated run by the postseason to earn the 2024 American Affiliation Title. The win additionally secures the third league championship for the Cougars in membership historical past, and the primary since successful the Midwest League in 2014.
It was one other tight affair with the Goldeyes (4-5), as the sport entered the highest of the seventh inning tied at three. Dealing with Winnipeg reliever Zac Reininger (0-1), Cornelius Randolph led off the body with a single. Todd Lott then cranked his second double of the evening to deep heart subject to place two runners in scoring place. Josh Allen then lined a single by the best facet to attain Randolph and make it 4-3. Following Allen’s single, Ben Onyshko got here on for the Goldeyes. Alex McGarry promptly blooped a single to attain Lott and provides the Cougars a 5-3 benefit.
After taking a two-run lead, the bullpen shut the door. CJ Carter labored a 1-2-3 seventh inning to place the Cougars six outs from a championship. Within the eighth, Jordan Martinson entered, however needed to depart the sport as a result of harm with a 2-2 depend to Dayson Croes. Logan Nissen subbed in. After surrendering a single to Croes, Nissen recorded three straight outs to place the Cougars three outs away.
Within the ninth, nearer Tyler Beardsley entered on the lookout for his fourth save of the postseason. Rob Emery hit a lead-off single, however Beardsley then induced a groundout from Rob Emery. Beardsley then struck out Nick Anderson to place the Cougars one out away from historical past. Roby Enriquez was the final hope for Winnipeg, however grounded proper again to Beardsley who flipped to first baseman Alex McGarry to safe the Miles Wolff Cup.
Earlier within the evening, the Cougars took a 2-0 lead in opposition to Winnipeg starter Travis Seabrooke. Within the prime of the second, Claudio Finol and Galli Cribbs Jr. each got here by with RBI singles to provide the Cougars an early two-run lead.
Cougars’ starter Tommy Sommer rolled by the primary three innings, however Winnipeg responded with a run within the fourth on a Croes hit. Nevertheless, the Cougars struck proper again within the prime of the fifth. Randolph doubled to guide off the body earlier than Lott drove him in with a double to make it 3-1.
Winnipeg got here by with one run every within the fourth and fifth innings to tie the sport at three earlier than the Cougars took the late lead. Carter (1-0) earned the win for the Cougars by permitting no runs in 1.2 innings. Cornelius Randolph was named Miles Wolff Cup Ultimate MVP. The Cougar outfielder completed the sequence 6-for-12 with two RBIs, three runs, and a stolen base.
The win made historical past for the Cougars, because the membership claimed its first championship as members of the American Affiliation. The Cougars additionally turned simply the third workforce in league historical past to go undefeated within the playoffs.
