Besides the Cougars and Bulls, the Hot Stove League consists of five other local teams: the East Cobb Cubs, North Georgia Barons, Sandy Springs Longhorns, Wills Park Force and Winward Rangers.

In the opener, Wills Park scored two runs in the second inning, once in the third, twice in the fourth and three times in the fifth.

Ally Savransky went 1-for-2 with a walk for the Cougars while Reeves Johnson also had a hit in two at-bats. Tyler Berrong reached base on a walk.

Charlie Boyette was the starting pitcher for East Cobb and did not allow an earned run over the first two innings. Bryer Brookshire threw two innings in relief, giving up just one earned run, while Thomas Luscher worked the final inning. The three pitchers combined to surrender seven hits.

In the second game, the Bulls scored two runs in the first inning and three in the second. After tallying single runs in each of the third and fourth innings, the hosts increased the lead to 10-0 with a three-run fifth. The Cougars did not give up, however, and fought back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth and final inning.

At the plate for East Cobb, Boyette was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored while Vinny Orzechowski doubled in his only at-bat. Elijah White also finished 1-for-1 with a run scored while Nick Fontanella and J.J. Lamas drew walks. Jeff Ciesielski scored the Cougars’ other run as a courtesy runner for Fontanella.

On the mound, Orzechowski got the start for East Cobb and struck out two batters in two innings before giving way to White, who tossed the last three with three strikeouts.

The Cougars, 0-2 overall and in league play, are scheduled to take part in their first tournament of the year, the USSSA-sanctioned Forsyth County Slugfest NIT, beginning on Friday. In pool play at City Park in Cumming, Ga., the Cougars will face Team Wilson at 8 p.m. on Friday and the East Cobb Hurricanes on Saturday at 9 a.m. Single-elimination bracket play is slated to start on Saturday afternoon and conclude on Sunday. The event includes a strong field of 32 teams, including one from Indiana.

Game recap by Steve Ruthsatz