The 45s Cubbies opened the season with a 4-1 win over a competitive Red Sox squad at New Scotland on Sunday morning.

Chris Dunn gave up an unearned run in the top of the first and deftly escaped jams in the first and third by stranding runners on second and third both innings. Dunn went five masterful innnings before Ron Mazzaroni shut the door by dominating the last two frames.

The Cubs quickly erased the 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the first when Jerry Rosen lined a shot over the left-center fence with a runner on. Amazingly, it was on a two-strike count with Rosen choking up 4-5 inches on the bat. Mitch, you woulda been proud.

It was great to be back on the ballfield, around a fun group of guys. As the late Tom Petty once sang, ''I need a Big Weekend, to kick up the dust; I need a Big Weekend, if you don't run you rust.'' It was nice to get some of the rust off this old body.