The Cubs played the top seeded S. Maryland Fedlock in game 3, and had to do so without clean up hitter Ron Lochner,
who was resting an injured hip. This Fedlock team is no joke! Hitters up and down the line up and everybody can run!
Their pitcher was their 4th pitcher but could have been the ace for 5 or 6 of the other teams in the tournament. At the same
time, we were saving pitching for the all important stadium game later in the day, and the playoffs just two days away.

That being said, the Cubs played the Fedlock boys as well if not better than any of the other teams they have played, scoring
5 runs against a team that had given up just 3 runs in their first 3 games combined. The Fedlock hitters pounded out 13 hits,
worked 10 walks, and stole 8 bases, while putting up 14 runs. The Cubs were able to manage 9 hits and 5 runs.
Mike Girard led the offense with 2 doubles and 3 RBI. Jack Griffen added two singles, and Bob Bolt, Dave Mitchell, Andy Hoyle,
Dean Little and Ralph Caputo had one hit each.

As soon as the game was over, the Cubbies loaded up and traveled 25 minutes south to Fit Team Ballpark in West Palm Beach.
The goal in this one was to get the win, and punch their ticket to the playoffs. The opponent was a familiar one: the Tri-State
Titans (Triad). The must win game was put in the hands of Bob Bolt, who was amazing, on the mound. He pitched 6 scoreless
innings giving up just 2 singles and 1 walk. That performance gave the Cubbies a chance to build a solid lead.
The Cubs offense got off to a flying start, as Scott Ross was hit by a pitch and stole second base. One out later, Mike Girard laced
a double over the third base bag, plating Ross. Girard then stole third, and scored on Ron Lochner's ground out to third for a quick
2-0 lead.
The Cubs were back at it in the second, as Dean Little got into scoring position on a one out double, and scored on an error.
The 3rd inning was the inning that the Cubs had been waiting for, scoring 5 times. Jack Griffen led off reaching on an error
and stole second. Girard was then hit by a pitch, and the bases were loaded, when Lochner worked a walk. Dave Mitchell singled
in one run, and Jerry Rosen cleared the bases with a 3 RBI double. After a Pete Geanellis walk, and a Andy Hoyle fielder's choice,
Dean Little drove in the Cubs 8th run with a RBI ground out. Everything was looking like it was going to go just as the Cubs had hoped,
until Ron Lochner came to the plate in the 5th inning. The Titans pitcher let fly with a 75 mph fast ball (there is a jugs gun on the score board)
up and in, and Ron could not get out of the way, getting hit in the face. The place went silent as Cubs teammates rushed to Ron's aid.
He was hit pretty flush and probably broke his nose. Blood was pouring out of his mouth and nose as we reached him lying face down.
It was a horrible sight! After some competent care by teammate Jerry Rosen, Ron got to his feet and walked to the dug out with a very bloody
towel held to his face. The Cubs were never really the same after that, scoring just one more run (on a Jack Griffen inside the park HR in the 7th).
The defense, solid all game long, kept the Titans at bay, allowing just 3 runs the rest of the way, as Ralph Caputo ate up the last 3 innings on the mound.

Now the Cubs are officially playoff qualified, and face just one more opponent before the playoffs start on Friday. That opponent is a very familiar one.
The Puerto Rico Royals, who the Cubs beat in the Round Robin last year, then lost to in the finals. This year the PR team has 37 players on their roster.
The game is not important for anything other than seedings, so it will be a good time, on a great field between two teams that love the game!
Looking forward to it!



-- Edited by mgirard11 on Thursday 7th of November 2019 09:00:33 AM