The game between the Cubs and Angels last night was really a gathering of good friends and current and former teammates, built around a game.
In a time where stress is everywhere, this was a stress free zone for 3-4 hours. While we all enjoyed the game, I think the after game cooler session
was even more fun, and quite therapeutic. 22 players, who have shared the field together at one point or other, and have become best of friends shared
cold refreshments, old stories, and laughs, until it was time to pry ourselves apart and head home.

As for the game, it was exactly what we thought it would be, competitive and a complete blast!
The Angels got things going in the top of the first, with a two out rally. Jim McQuade doubled with 2 outs and nobody on. Ted Poleto walked, and Mash Gadomski hit a
sharp grounder to short that took a sideways hop, and ended up in left field. McQuade hustling on the play scored and the Angels owned a 1-0 lead.

The Cubs got off to a quick start, scoring 4, in their half of the first. Alex Marin beat out an infield grounder, highlighted by the best "okey doke" slide I have ever seen
at first, avoiding a tag, as the throw pulled Ted Poleto up the first baseline. Ron Massaroni hit into a fielders choice for the first out, followed by a single to the right side
by Mike Girard. Ron Lochner then did what he does best and singled up the middle to score Massaroni. Jerry Rosen drew a walk and Dave Mitchell singled home Girard.
An error on an Andy Hoyle grounder scored Lochner, and a Ron McCarthy fielders choice scored Rosen, and the Cubs were owners of a 4-1 lead.

The Angels scratched out a run in the top of the second, to cut the lead to 4-2. Jon Martin led off with a solid single to right. A fielders choice by Tom Maney and walks to
Jim Wing and TJ Scorsone loaded the bases with one out. Bob Bolt plated the run with a sacrifice fly to left.
Both starting pitchers Bolt, and Scott Ross had 1-2-3 innings in the 3rd, and the Angels rallied and took the lead in the top of the 4th. Visiting from Florida, CDMSBL
Hall of Famer Ted Martin got things going with a lead-off single. His younger brother followed with a long double over the right fielder's head, and runners were on second
and third with nobody out. A pop out to short and a strike out brought hope that Ross would pitch his way out of the jam, but TJ Scorsone came through in the clutch with
a 2 out RBI single. Bob Bolt walked and John Reel delivered the go ahead run with a single, putting the Angels up 5-4. Ron Massaroni came on in relief and put out the fire
on a come backer to the mound.

The Cubs did not let the Angels rally discourage them. The bottom half of the 4th inning saw the Cubs rally right back. A Rosen walk, Mitchell single, and an error loaded the bases
with one out. Ron McCarthy came through with a 2 RBI single, and the Cubs reclaimed a 1 run lead (6-5). The Cubs would pad that lead, with a run in the 6th. Lochner reached
on an error, and after a pop out to second, for the first out, consecutive singles by Mitchell, Andy Hoyle, and McCarthy pushed Lochner across for a 7-5 lead.

As you might have guessed, the Angels did not go quietly in the 7th. After Massaroni had retired his 8th and 9th consecutive batters, for the first two outs in the inning, John Reel and
Jim McQuade reached on two very untimely errors. With the tying runners on second and third, and the tension mounting, Ron took things into his own hands and struck out the last batter,
to secure the victory . . . and that is when the socially distanced party started.

The cooler session was the best part of this one, and ended way too soon. I can't wait until the second game between these two teams, so we can do it all again!