Cougars Open Conference Play With a Statement: High-Octane Bats, Big Answers, and a Road Sweep at Redwoods
Game 1: Lassen 10, Redwoods 9 (Feb. 21)
Lassen’s conference opener had everything—momentum swings, big innings, and a finish that tested every ounce of composure. The Cougars piled up 16 hits and built multiple leads, but Redwoods kept answering, turning the game into a back-and-forth battle all the way to the final out. In the end, Lassen delivered the last major punch and survived with a 10–9 win to start league play on the right foot.
Offensively, the Cougars came through in waves. Damico Parker set the tone (3-for-6, 3 runs, RBI, double) and was a constant problem at the top, while Roque Serrano added two hits and two RBI. Sam Moore was clutch (2-for-3, 2 RBI, plus a walk), and Jackson Rosenthal was a rock in the middle of the order, going 4-for-5. Kylan Kono matched Parker’s energy with a 3-for-5 day, 3 runs, and an RBI.
The key stretch came when Lassen refused to let Redwoods’ five-run fifth define the game. After falling behind, the Cougars responded with a three-run sixth to flip the momentum right back. Then, when Redwoods threatened again late, Lassen answered with a three-run eighth, the type of response that wins conference games on the road. The offense didn’t just score—it responded.
On the mound, Lassen pieced it together with four arms and battled through traffic, walks, and pressure situations. Evan Rhoden, Trent Bailey, and Noah Kimura each worked through tough innings, and Ben Lukens closed it down late, tossing 1.1 scoreless to secure the win. It wasn’t perfect—Lassen had three errors—but the Cougars won the “next pitch” all day and left with a gritty conference-opening victory.
Game 2: Lassen 10, Redwoods 1 (Feb. 21)
If game one was about resilience, game two was about control. Lassen jumped on Redwoods early, kept adding on, and cruised to a 10–1 win behind a relentless offense and steady pitching. The Cougars finished with 18 hits, forced Redwoods into five errors, and never let the game drift into danger.
The offense was balanced and explosive. Mason Montoya had a huge day (4-for-5, run, RBI) and set the table repeatedly. Ethan Beede was all over the barrel (3-for-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, plus a walk), and Izach Benavidez delivered run-producing at-bats (RBI, plus two RBI total). Jack Zimmerman added two hits including a double and an RBI, while Sam Moore chipped in two more hits and an RBI. Even when the Cougars weren’t hitting for extra bases, they were pressuring with aggressive baserunning—Lassen stole nine bases.
On the mound, Lassen made the early lead stand with efficient work from Caden Fowler and Kawika Mendoza. Fowler went 5.0 innings, allowing just 1 run while keeping Redwoods from stringing together rallies, and Mendoza shut the door with 4.0 scoreless to finish it. Together, they limited Redwoods to six hits and kept the Cougars in rhythm all afternoon.
By the end of the day, the message was clear: Lassen opened conference play with the exact identity you want—response, pressure, and depth. A one-run win followed by a run-rule-feel blowout is the kind of road doubleheader that can set the tone for a league season.