Cougars close out regular season with loss to Cleburne

The Kane County Cougars closed out the regular season with an 8-0 loss to Cleburne on Monday at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.

Cleburne (49-51) struck immediately against Kane County (54-45) right-hander Reese Sharp. Merik Carter and Frankie Tostado singled before Cody Thomas launched a three-run homer. The Railroaders added a fourth run later in the inning when Tommy Sacco scored on a Brantley Bell double.

Sharp settled in from there, retiring six straight before Bell singled in the fourth. Carter Aldrette followed with a hard-hit ball to left-center, allowing Bell to score and make it 5-0.

The Railroaders put the game away in the fifth. After a single and walk loaded the bases with two outs, Bell lined a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to make it 8-0.

Kane County had its best chance in the sixth when Jairus Richards doubled and Zane Spinn followed with a single, but Carter threw Richards out at the plate to keep the Cougars scoreless.

Cleburne's bullpen shut the door from there, with Kane County unable to mount another serious threat. Luke Short earned the win, while Sharp took the loss.

The Cougars begin their campaign for the Miles Wolff Cup at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against the Lake Country DockHounds at Northwestern Medicine Field. It will be the first game of a best-of-three series to begin the playoffs.