Cousins is Lancers’ quiet leader

by Eric Keppeler
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 12, 2007

Pat Cousins has manned first base for Lew-Port since his sophomore year. (photos by Larry Austin)

Patrick Cousins is a man of few words.

The senior captain of the Lewiston-Porter varsity baseball team prefers to let his actions speak for him, both on and off the field.

A three-year starter at first base, Cousins has seen the Lancers struggle at times against the other much larger schools in the Niagara Frontier League. But he accepts that challenge the same way he would take on any other – he shrugs his shoulders and then rolls up his sleeves and gets to work.

“It can be frustrating at times, but you’ve just got to deal with it,” Cousins said. “We just go out and play every day and do the best that we can. We all try to help each other.”

Cousins is doing plenty of helping.

He’s always been a defensive rock at first base, but his offense this year is really turning heads. Hitting at nearly a .600 clip, other teams are very aware of him in the Lancers lineup – and they pitch to him accordingly.

Lancers coach Mark Waple is pleased to have seen Cousins grow over the last three years.

“He’s been a three-year starter for me at first base,” Waple said. “He comes to play every day. He’s having a tremendous year at the plate – he’s seeing everything. He’s a great leader, and he’s always asking what he can do for everybody else.”

The Lancers are giving the rest of the league all it can handle, checking in at 5-5 overall and 4-4 in the NFL with a week left in the regular season.

Lew-Port usually plays better than its record shows, but this year, that success is reflected in the standings, and Cousins says the reason for that is no mystery.

“We hang as a team and we work well together,” Cousins said. “Our pitching has been solid this year – definitely better than last year.”

The Lancers close out the regular season at 6 p.m. Thursday, hosting Grand Island at Washuta Park, and then the real fun begins. The teams are divided by size and then seeded for the sectional playoffs, so the Lancers will be taking on schools their own size.

And after playing this murderous schedule of quality teams in the NFL, the Lancers figure to be battle-tested and ready to go when the sectionals begin.

“Pretty much every team that we play is tough in this league,” Cousins said. “I guess that will get us used to playing at a high level when the playoffs start.”

Waple says he always looks forward to the playoffs, but this year’s post-season will have a tinge of sadness to it as Cousins will suit up for the last time in green and white. The coach is definitely not looking forward to having to replace his captain.

“He’s started every regular season game at first base for the last three years,” Waple said. “Next year, I’ll have to get the book out and learn how to coach first base again.”