The Cubs squared off with the Tidewater Drillers, in their first round robin game. The Drillers went through their first Roy Hobbs World Series last year with a 5-0 record. They are a fully sponsored team with players from all over the country. Their airfare, lodgings and player fees were all paid for by their sponsor. They have a 25 man roster. The Cubs came into the game with a 17 man roster and had had to rest a few of the Whiz player that had already played in the 55+ tournament lasty week and were a little banged up.
Well, the Cubs showed their grit and skill level with a 13-8 victory. Even playing their first game in months with the game time temps in the mid 80's and high humidity, the Cubs got out to a comfortable lead and coasted. They didn't get on the scoreboard until the top of the 4th inning, but when they did, they did it in true Albany Cubs fashion! PJ Martone batting second for the first time this year (due to his hot bat in the last half of the CDMSBL season and Matinee games) got the ball rolling with a booming triple into the right field corner. Paul Miles produced the first run with a RBI ground out. Dave Mitchell, Darrell Duncan, and Jerry Rosen followed with singles. Gene Hallenbeck, Joe Careccia, Bob Bolt, and Ron Massaroni all followed with walks. Ralph Caputo produced run with a RBI groundout and Jim McQuade walked in another run before the Drillers could get the final out in the inning. When the dust had cleared the Cubs held a 8-0 lead.
Cubs' starter, Mike Girard, who had dominated the Drillers line up through the first 3 innings, did what a pitcher needs to do after his team scores for him, He got the Drillers out in the 4th with out scoring a run. Two ground outs and a strike out were sandwiched around a 2-out walk.
His teammates gave him a 9th run in the top of the 5th. Pat Martone led off with another hit and Girard followed with his second hit of the day. Mitchell followed with a walk to load the bases with nobody out. Martone scored when the Drillers completed a double play. The Cubs headed into the bottom of the 5th with a 9-0 lead.
The meat of the Drillers top of the order showed why they are the meat of the order on a fully sponsored team in the 5th. After not getting a runner as far as 2nd base through the first 4 innings and only recorded one infield "Baltimore Chop", the 3 and 4 hitters doubled then singled to produce their first run. Girard then walked the 5 hitter. An error, and a walk later, the Drillers had 3 runs. Girard would two outs, but surrendered another hit before leaving the game. Doug Hall a rookie to the CDMSBL league and rookie to tournament like this was called on to put out the fire. Lots of pressure for a first timer to the RH World Series. He came through for his teammates and it was on to the 6th with the Cubs holding a 9-4 lead.
The Cubs offense made sure that the Drillers rally didn't boost their attitude for long. After a leadoff walk by Hallenbeck, he moved to second on a wild pitch and then stole third. Ron Massaroni delivered him with a RBI single. Ralph Caputo reached on an error, and Jim McQuade me through with a 2-out RBI to expand the lead to 11-4.
The Drillers' top of the order produced a single run in the bottom half of the inning to close the Cubs' lead to 11-5, but Doug Hall limited the damage to just one run and put a goose egg on the board in the 7th. With all of the runs scored to this point in the game, it became obvious that the game would be limited to 8 innings due to the time limit. The Cubs plated 2 runs in the top of the 8th inning to boost their lead to 13-5. Three consecutive hits by Darrell Duncan, Jerry Rosen, and Hallenbeck along with a sacrifice fly by Careccia created 2 insurance runs and the Cubs entered the bottom of the last half of the last inning with a 13-5 lead.
The Drillers would plate 3 insignificant runs in the bottom half of the inning and the final score ended up 13-8. Cubs Win! The Cubs have a double header today, starting at 10:00 am. Both teams they play are teams that beat the Cubs last year. Revenge Day today.
