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April 27th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (8-6): 5
Cleveland Foresters (5-8): 2

W: Dick Leudtke (3-0)
L: Allen Purvis (0-2)

We started our week with a 5-2 win as Dick Leudtke continued his strong start to the season. He allowed just 2 hits and 2 runs with a strikeout in the complete game victory. He was also 1-for-2 with an RBI and pair of sac-bunts. Harry Simmons was 4-for-5 with a run scored and driven in. Fred Barrell was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI's and 2 walks.

April 28th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (9-6): 4
Cleveland Foresters (5-9): 3
10 Innings

W: Jim Crawford (2-1)
L: Eddie Gray (1-2)
SV: Dick Kadlec (2)

The game stayed tied after nine, but Tom Taylor didn't want to stay for much more. He drove home John Kincaid in the top half of the 10th, and we finished them off in the bottom half to set up a road sweep. Taylor was 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI's. Russ Combs was 3-for-5 with a run scored and steal. Kincaid was 2-for-5 with a double, RBI, and 2 runs scored. Jim Crawford picked up the win, tossing 9.2 innings with 10 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. Dick Kadlec allowed a single and then got a ground out to finish the game.

April 29th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (10-6): 9
Cleveland Foresters (5-10): 4

W: Max Wilder (1-3)
L: Rube McCormick (1-1)

We finished the series strong with a nice 9-4 win to finish the sweep. Our next step is Toronto, where I like our chances. Bill Ashbaugh was 3-for-4 with a walk, steal, homer, 2 runs, and 4 RBI's. The homer was the first of the season for him. Russ Combs was 3-for-5 with 2 steals, 3 runs, and 2 RBI's. Harry Simmons was 2-for-4 with a walk and run scored. Max Wilder had a decent start, 7 innings with 6 hits, 4 runs (2 earned), 6 walks, and 4 strikeouts.

April 30th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (10-7): 0
Toronto Wolves (6-11): 2

W: Frank Howk (1-2)
L: Steve Castellini (1-2)

We arrived North of the border, but decided to leave our bats back in the states as the Wolves shut us out 2-0. Castellini threw fine, 7 innings with 8 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Russ Combs was 2-for-4 with a triple. Fred Barrell was 1-for-3 with a double.

May 1st, 1931
Chicago Cougars (10-8): 3
Toronto Wolves (7-11): 4

W: Bert Sweet (1-0)
L: Dick Lyons (2-2)

May started how April ended, and the Wolves managed top beat us again, this time 4-3. We should have won, as 3 of the 4 runs were unearned courtesy of a Fred Barrell error. He didn't strike anyone out, but allowed 7 hits and 5 walks in 8 innings. Harry Simmons was 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.

May 2nd, 1931
Chicago Cougars (10-9): 5
Toronto Wolves (8-11): 10

W: Art Harvey (2-3)
L: Dick Leudtke (3-1)

The losses keep adding up and I'm just not sure why we can't beat the Wolves. This time, they topped us 10-5, but worst of all, Russ Combs left with an injury. Leudtke had his first bad outing, allowing 12 hits and 9 runs (8 earned) with 2 walks and a strikeout in 6.1 innings. Claude Purvis went 1.1 innings with 2 hits and a run. Tom Taylor was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI's. John Kincaid was 2-for-4 with a walk, double, RBI, and two runs scored. John Dibblee was 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI's.

May 3rd, 1931
Chicago Cougars (10-10): 1
Toronto Wolves (9-11): 7

W: Birdie Smith (2-3)
L: Jim Crawford (2-2)

We just could not hit and the Wolves handled us 7-1 to finish off the sweep. I cannot believe we got swept by the team that had the worst record in the league last year. Granted, it was on the road and we've played a lot of days in a row, but we have to win games like this if we want to be a serious threat.

Jim Crawford went 6 with 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Dick Kadlec was roughed up, 5 hits and 4 runs with a walk in 2 innings. John Kincaid was 3-for-5 with a double and RBI. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with a double.

Stars of the Week
Russ Combs : 26 AB, 12 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .462 AVG, 1.115 OPS
Harry Simmons : 26 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .423 AVG, .983 OPS
Bill Ashbaugh : 28 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .321 AVG, .887 OPS

Weekly Summary
I thought a week starting with a sweep of the Foresters would be a good one, but instead we decided to throw away all four games in Toronto. We played absolutely horrible and the offense was bad. We are definitely tired, and now we're going to be without Russ Combs for a significant amount of time.

Combs strained his ACL and will miss 4-5 weeks. He was having an amazing season, hitting .400/.402/.541 (139 OPS+) with a homer, 5 steals, and 16 RBI's in just 87 plate appearances. He was leading the CA in batting average and tied for the second most steals. Filling that production will be tough and I sort of wish I had kept Mack Deal to fill in with an injury. I'll instead have to rely on Slim Bloom who's 5-for-21 with 5 RBI's to start the season.

Our first off day is finally coming up, but we'll host the Foresters (7-12) for four in Chicago first. After the off day we'll head back to Canada, this time to face the Saints (4-16) in Montreal who have been having a really rough season. These games here are extremely crucial as we need to win against teams below .500. We already threw away four to the Wolves and we can't let the losses pile up. Baltimore (14-6) and Philadelphia (13-6) are 4 and 3.5 games ahead of us already, and we can't afford to slip anymore.

Injury Report
SS Russ Combs (FABL Chicago Cougars): strained anterior cruciate ligament (4-5 weeks)
3B John Kane (A Lincoln Legislators): strained forearm (seven weeks)

Transactions
Recalled SS Tom Rogers from AAA Milwaukee

Amateur Report

2B Red Moore (Frankford State Owls): It was a solid sophomore year for Red Moore, but his season was cut short with a sprained ankle. The 19-year-old was hitting .319/.392/.504 (131 OPS+) with 4 homers, 7 steals, and 27 RBI's in 153 trips to the plate. Moore is a great defender at second and makes consistent at the plate. He's lucky he's getting hurt this year instead of next, as this would have been a tough season to have in a draft year. One of the top prospects at second base, Moore will have a chance to bounce back next year.

SP Preacher Pietsch (Louisville HS Titans): Most high school freshman never see the field, but you would not be able to tell that Preacher Pietsch was a freshman. The 14-year-old is a perfect 5-0 with a 1.07 ERA (339 ERA+), 0.61 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 58.2 innings. Pietsch is leading the rotation of a team just a game out of first in their division. He's an excellent young pitcher who keeps the ball on the ground. He has decent enough command and a nifty four pitch arsenal. He has a lot of time to add speed to his 83-85 MPH fastball, but will have to stay healthy. As is, he could be a top of the rotation arm, but one bad arm injury could throw his FABL career off.

SP Fritz Kendrick (Tulsa HS Tomcats): If you thought Pietsch was good, Fritz Kendrick may even be better. Another dominant freshman, he's 6-1 with a 1.04 ERA (340 ERA+), 0.71 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts in 69 innings. The lefty is a sinkerballer who like Preacher, has a lot of time to add velocity on his pitches. Unlike him, Kendrick features a dominant change up with massive downward movement. He's got excellent command of all four pitchers and could front a major league rotation.