In an exciting game tonight at New Scotland the Highlanders held off a furious comeback effort by the Cubs. The score was 5-0 Highlanders going into the fourth inning when the Cubs chipped away with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The first run scored on a solid home run by Hoyle. The Cubs tied the score in the bottom if the fifth inning in what now had become a two inning game. The Highlanders struck for three runs in the top of the sixth and the Cubs replied with two in the bottom of the inning. The Cubs held the Highlanders scoreless in the top of the seventh and the Cubs were held scoreless in the bottom of the inning, although they had a leadoff single. The next game is scheduled for Thursday at Bob Moore.
Hats off to a Highlanders team that struggled through a 4-16 regular season. They used 4 hits and 1 walk and two Cubs errors in the first to take a 5-0 lead off of last year's playoff MVP Ron Massaroni. Highlander's starter, John Kalinski, looked like he would make those 5 runs stand up through the first 3 innings, as he held the Cubs scoreless. He was aided in the first and third innings by line drives being hity right at his left fielder and shortstop with men in scoring position. Ron Massaroni settled in after the first, and kept the Highlanders from adding to their lead. This enabled the Cubs to mount their comeback, which started in the bottom of the 4th, when Andy Hoyle led off with a long home run to left center. With the ice broken, the Cubs would build a second run on a walk by Dave Mitchell and consecutive singles by Tom Maney and Phil Gadomski. After Massaroni pitched his 4th consecutive scoreless inning, the Cubs used the momentum to tie the game in the bottom of the 5th. Jim McQuade led off the rally with a walk. After a fielders choice and a stolen base by Shawn Maney, Kalinski got a called third strike on the next batter to get the second out of the inning. Mike Girard followed with a bloop RBI single and took second on the throw home. Andy Hoyle doubled Girard home, and Ron Lochner followed with a RBI single to tie the game. Having the defending champions erase a 5 run lead would kill the spirit of most teams, but the Highlanders would not go quietly. David Stroud led off the top of the sixth with a ground ball single through the hole. Mike Aiello pinch ran for Stroud and was wild pitched to second. Kevin Jackson lined a double down the right field line that gave the lead back to the Highlanders. Lenny Rebhun then blooped a singled to move Jackson to third. Rebhun promptly stole second. Bill Hamel provided the second run of the inning with a sacrafice fly to center field. After a strike out, Jack Griffin singled in the third run of the inning to give the Highlanders a 8-5 lead. The Cubs fought right back in the bottom of the sixth with a spirited rally. Kalinsky got two of the first three Cubs in the inning, sandwiched around a walk to Phil Gadomski. Jonny Martin worked a two two out walk, to bring the tying run to the plate. Jim McQuade singled to load the bases. Shawn Maney got a RBI single and Steve Lounello was hit by a pitch to make the score 8-7. Cos Dibari brought in Kevin Jackson to pitch to Mike Girard with the bases loaded and two outs. Girard worked the count to 3-1, but Kevin got Mike to hit a grounder to short that was momentarily bobbled, but corraled and thrown to second base just in time to beat the runner from first. Inning over!!! Jon Martin came on in the top of the 7th for the Cubs and got the Highlanders out without incident. Andy Hoyle led off the bottom of the 7th with a single up the middle, but Kevin Jackson got the next three Cubs on a fly to right, a fielders choice, and a pop out to short. Inning over! Game over!!! The Highlanders take a surprising 1-0 lead in the series, with game two on Thursday night at the Bob at 6:00 pm. All involved are looking forward to a hotly contested game two. It should be a good one!
