The Cubs used a 18-hit attack to put up 17 runs in 5 innings, along with great pitching and defense to post a 17-1 win
over the Americans on a beautiful Thursday night at Watervliet High School.

Ron Massaroni threw the first 4 innings, giving up just 3 hits and 1 run, while walking none and striking out 2.
Ron gave up doubles to Dave Page and Chris Guido in the first inning, before settling in and facing the minimum of
9 batters over innings 2, 3, and 4. Sherwin So came on in the 5th with a scoreless inning of relief. The Cubs defense supported
their pitchers with some fine defense, turning 3 double plays in 5 innings.

The Cubs got on the scoreboard first: Chris Dunn got a one-out single, and immediately stole second. Ron Lochner grounded a ball to short,
and as the play was made at first, Dunn hustled all of the way around to score. You would never have guessed that Chris had injured his
ankle in the Cubs game the prior Thursday.

The Cubs picked up a pair of runs in the second inning on a Rosen single; a stolen base; a long RBI double by Dave Mitchell; a wild pitch;
and a RBI single by Massaroni. They would up their lead to 8-1 with 5 runs in the 3rd. A double by Mike Reutter and singles by Carlos Espada,
Ron Lochner, Mike Girard, and Andy Hoyle, mixed in with a pair of Americans' miscues, accounted for the runs.

The Cubs used 6 consecutive 2 out singles (Espada, Dunn, Lochner, So, Jerry Rosen, and Girard) to push the lead to 12-1 after 4 innings.
They then filled out the scoresheet, in the top of the 5th, with 5 more runs. Massaroni had a single; Carlos Espada had a RBI double; and Dunn had a 2-RBI
triple in the rally.

The Cubs moved to 9-1 with the win and the Americans dropped to 1-8 with the loss. The Cubs play a home and home with the Pirates next week before
renewing their rivalry with the Whiz Kids on Friday, August 9th. That date has been circled on both teams' calendars since their last meeting.
Can't wait for that one!
Good luck to the Americans the rest of the way.