Pirates Washed out, Eager to Beat Cougars

For the Hopatcong Pirates, Sunday's Amateur Baseball Association playoff semifinal game against the New Jersey Cougars was supposed to be their chance to avenge their only losses on the season while advancing to the league finals.

Unfortunately, the Pirates plans for payback had to be put on hold due to Sunday's all-day downpour.

"It's kind of disappointing," Pirates' centerfielder Matt Wenneis said. "We all had a bit of extra energy for this game."

Pirates' pitching ace Frank Gibney was a bit more candid with his response.

"It stinks," Gibney said. "We were really prepared to go out and play this game. It seems like it rains every Sunday in this league."

The Cougars, who advanced to the semifinal round with a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Dodgers, swept the Pirates in a June 27 doubleheader. After winning, 7-5, in a close battle in Game 1, the Cougars trounced the Pirates, 11-1, in Game 2.

"We didn't come prepared to play that day," said Gibney. "We didn't hit well. We didn't field well. We came out and played poorly in every aspect of the game."

Gibney, who allowed six runs and walked seven in five innings of work, was equally critical of his own performance on the mound.

"It was definitely my worst performance this year. There's no doubt about that," Gibney said. "It's no excuse, but I threw a lot of pitches the previous week. I definitely felt a little tired during that game."

But despite their poor performance against the Cougars earlier this season, Gibney thinks his team can find a ray of hope when looking back at the loss.

"Even as bad as we played in that first game, we still only lost by two runs," Gibney said. "We can't help but play better the next time around. Something's got to give."

While an official date for the game has yet to be made official, it will most likely be scheduled for this coming Sunday.

For Wenneis, the game can't come soon enough.

"We want to come out and show them that we're a much better team than the one they played last time," Wenneis said.

"We really want to win this game," Gibney added. "We're all staying dedicated to winning and beating these guys. A lot of guys on the team are even being homebodies on Saturday night just so they're ready to play on Sunday."

At this point, one of the Pirates' biggest concerns about the season is another rain delay.

"We hope we don't have another cancelation because of rain," Gibney said. "A lot of the guys on the team are going to be going back to college in another couple of weeks. So that could pose a real problem if the weather causes the season to drag into September."

But bad weather aside, the Pirates like their chances to avenge their losses and make a trip to the league championship game.

"They're a very good team but we know we're better," Gibney said. "Everybody's excited about this game. Hopefully we can keep up the intensity and get the win."