Cougars Baseball Travels To Bloomingdale

After winning four straight, the Bulls dropped a tough home game to Riverview on Saturday, 8-6.

Bloomingdale (9-6-0, 3-2-0, third place, 6A Division 8) has won four of its last five games in a tough stretch of four games in two days that tested the young Bulls. Bloomingdale has outscored its opponents 42-17 in those games.

Durant (9-4-0, 5-3-0, third place, 5A Division 8) will visit Bloomingdale on Tuesday after a tough loss to Jefferson on Friday night, 10-1. Prior to Durant's nonconference loss, the Cougars had won two straight against Armwood (4-2) and East Bay (4-1).

Durant has a steady lineup that is led by sophomore Tyler Danish. In 33 at bats, Danish has a .606 BA that includes 10 doubles and 14 RBI. Together the Cougars bring a very gritty .346 BA to Tuesday night's match-up.

Durant has a very deep pitching staff that includes a total of eight or more Cougars. Together, the Cougars post an ERA of 3.00 and a 2.16 BA.

Bloomingdale brings its hot bats to the plate on Tuesday scoring an average of eight runs in its last five games. With a .307 BA, the Bulls continue to frustrate pitchers with steady hitting and base-running.

With 95 hits and 27 stolen bases among them, Bloomingdale's row of young batters that include Richie Martin, Nolan Schrenker, Garret Lorenzo, Justin Ambrosino, Jeff Griffith and Brycen Gladbach are a nightmare for opposing pitchers.

Although the Bulls have used a number of different pitchers in the last few games, they continue to be led by Robby Kalaf (4-1, 47 K's). Bloomingdale must find the strike zone and be effective and efficient on defense to shut down the power and precision of Durant.

This is a nonconference game, however, both teams are looking to establish dominance in Hillsborough County as the 2011 season continues.

Bloomingdale will host Durant on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.