The Whiz Kids out hit, out pitched, and out played the Cubs on Monday night, in game one of the finals. The Whiz Kids collected 9 hits to 8 for the Cubs. Mike Kane made his best pitches, when he needed them the most, stranding runners in scoring position in 4 of his 7 innings. He pitched a complete game, scattering 8 singles, giving up just 2 runs (one unearned), walking one, while striking out 2.
The Whiz got off to a hot start getting 4 singles in the first, the most important of which was a 2-RBI single by Gene Hallenbeck. The table was set for Hallenbeck's hit when Dave Siriani led off the game by beating out a routine grounder to short, and stole second base. Shawn Martin singled him to third, and stole second. Hallenbeck followed with his big hit.
The Cubs cut the lead in half, in the bottom of the first when Paul Miles singled and stole second. Andy Hoyle singled him to third, and Miles scored on a double steal. Kane put out the fire by striking out the Cubs clean up hitter and getting a fly ball to left.
The Whiz pushed the lead to 3-1 in the third, when they got a one-out single by Shawn Martin, a stolen base, and a Jan Friedman RBI single. The game would remain at 3-1 until the 6th inning, when the Whiz would use all of their tools to rally for 3 runs. Jan Friedman led off with a single and a stolen base. A sacrifice bunt moved him to third, and a suicide squeeze by Pete Geanellis plated Freeman with the 4th Whiz run. Singles by Jeff Friedman and Joey Burns and an untimely Cubs error created two more runs, to make it 6-1.
The Cubs would get one more run in the bottom of the 6th, but the game was well in hand with Mr. Kane on the mound. The Whiz take game one 6-2. Game two will be played Wednesday night, at the A-Diamond, at 5:00 pm. The likely starters are two big game pitchers: Bob Bolt for the Whiz, and Ron Massaroni for the Cubs. It should be another good one.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Tuesday 21st of September 2021 08:48:43 AM
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Tuesday 21st of September 2021 04:35:35 PM
