Kane County Cougars: Week 1 recap

There's been one no-hitter, four games postponed because of rain and snow, and many double-headers yet to be scheduled. It hasn't been good weather to say the least in Illinois lately, but the Kane County Cougars remain undefeated to start the 2008 season. They're 8-0 heading into their Sunday double-header in Peoria, before returning home to play - hopefully - a dry series against South Bend.

Greg Dowling has been the offensive star, batting .464 going into Sunday, with four doubles and a home-run, and 9 RBI which is good enough for 2nd on the team.

Todd Johnson is next in line, with three home-runs, and a team-leading 10 RBI and 9 runs scored (another team lead). He also has a double and triple to go along with his already impressive stats.

Mike Richard has only played in three games, but has been impressive batting .333. Not known for his power 'Rocket' Richard has a double and three hits in 9 at-bats.

Mike Lissman might be the surprise so far, batting just over .300. Lissman spent 2007 with the Arizona A's, and already has three extra-base hits, as the everyday Outfielder with Johnson and Corey Brown.

Speaking of Brown, what a job he's done. Corey has two dingers, and two doubles. The only downside? In 32 at-bats he's struck out 14 times. Ouch. Come on Corey, you can do better than that.

Matt Ray, Christian Vitters and Walter Correa are all fighting for everyday positions in the infield, and so far Ray is doign the best job to impress the coaching staff. Playing in all 8 games, and leading the team in at-bats, 'Manta' has three doubles and a triple, but like Brown has struck out way too many times (10). He is tied for the team lead in errors (surprise, with Walter Correa), but still is batting .273.

Vitters hasn't done much, and has struck out one times less than Ray, and has batted seven less times. He has time to get better, in his second year with the Cougars.

Correa is averaging a hit every four at-bats, but hasn't really gotten the opportunity to impress yet this season, batting just 16 times.

NOTE to Shane Keough: I'm Sorry. You're going to be back in Vancouver. So far ex-Playmate Jeana's kid has played in three games, with just four at-bats (and one hit). Keough has two strike-outs in those four at-bats, and is being used as a pinch-runner. See you in the red and black.

Behind the dish, Jon Johnston is doing a good job on the base paths, but can't do much at the plate. He's walked six times, struck out eight, and hit just twice in 22 at-bats, but when he's on base, he leads the team and is second in the league with stolen bases.

His competition Jake Smith is struggling just as much, batting .217. Luckily, he's struck out only once in 23 at-bats.

Another back-catcher Gustavo 'Rosie' Rosendo is batting .400 in his limited at-bats, but it sounds like he might have a shot to make Stockton later in the season if he gets playing time with the Cougars.

On the hill, Kane County is unstoppable. Craig Italiano, their #1 starter, is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA including a combined no-hitter with Branden Dewing, and in 9.2 innings has 14 strikeouts, and has given up just five hits and three runs.

Another starter Travis Banwart is almost as impressive, averaging a hit an inning, and in two starts has two wins with a 3.00 ERA. Travis has 8 K's and has only walked two batters.

Four guys who are competing for the remaining three spots in the rotation, Brad Hertzler, Jamie Richmond, Scott Mitchinson and Scott Hodsdon have all done very well. Hertzler is 0-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two games (one start), giving up just one run in 6.2 innings. Canadian-born Richmond is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA through 5 innings, but has given up a hit an inning, and two runs (including a dinger). He's done well though. Mitchinson has only had one chance to impress, and went 4 innings giving up an earned run and five hits, while striking out eight. Imagine what he can do through 12 innings! Hodsdon has started once, and has yet to give up a run. Giving up four hits and striking out three, he's pitched through 3.1 innings.

In the 'pen, Scott Deal is the best reliever on the team. He shouldn't even be in Kane County he's so good. 1-0, 1.35 ERA, 4 hits, ER, 5 strikeouts. They don't sound too good after 6.2 innings, but he was a starter last year, and with a big figure (6'5), he's a hitters nightmare on the mound.

Justin Friend has done equally as well, and he's 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two appearances (4 and a third on the hill). He's given up four hits and five runs (none of which were earned), and has struck out nine batters.

Chris Farley has gone four innings, giving up a lone hit, and one walk. Great stuff.

The best strikeout threat? Jose Fragoso. One save, 3.2 innings, one hit, and NINE strikeouts. Only three hitters he's faced have not fallen victim to the Venezuelan.

Nick Walters has done well, 2 appearances, one hit, four walks, five K's but it doesn't compare to Branden Dewing.

Dewing in two games has given up two hits, and pitched a perfect 1.1 innings, finishing off Craig Italiano's no-hitter.

Scott Moore has come in twice, striking out one, in 1.1 on the hill.

The Cougars need to play more, but so far being undefeated (8-0) they look like the team to beat in the Midwest.