Signs Favor Kennedy in Year of the Cougar

There was a sign in the Kennedy High dugout Wednesday at Birmingham that read: “If you must make excuses, make them for the team you beat.”

That’s exactly what happened as the Golden Cougars breezed to an 8-2 victory and the Mid-Valley League title.

After taking a 1-0 lead, Birmingham self-destructed in the third and fourth innings, allowing six runs on three hits, four errors, three wild pitches and one passed ball. Then, in the sixth, Braves catcher Todd Richards allowed a pop foul by Gino Tagliaferri to land untouched. Moments later, Tagliaferri tagged a pitch for his fourth home run of the season to make the score 8-1.

“I don’t know if any of them know what it means, but I hope a couple do,” Kennedy Coach Dick Whitney said of his sign.

Despite Whitney’s skepticism, the sign does hold special meaning for some of the Kennedy players.

“I’ve never seen it at an away game before,” Kennedy pitcher Colin Hines said. “I thought Birmingham stole it because it was in their dugout. I’m glad someone brought it along.”

Tagliaferri’s home run cleared the left-field fence at the 330-foot sign, just inside the foul pole, so it would have cleared the fence at Dodger Stadium, site of the City Section 4-A Division championship game. And that’s where the Golden Cougars hope they’re headed: Wednesday’s league championship was the first for Kennedy (17-9, 12-3 in league play) since 1981, although it won the City championship in 1985 when it finished second in Mid-Valley play.

“I’d have to say at this point this team is better than the ’85 team,” Whitney said. “We have more guys contributing to the team as a whole.”

Birmingham (8-11, 5-10) will play Monroe on Friday at home to determine the league’s fourth-place team, which will advance to next week’s playoffs.