Starting the day with a 1-2 record, the Cubs needed to impress the seeding committee with a strong showing
in game 4. The opponent was the Alabama Bandits who had a 5-0 record in the round robin last year.
They also had a tough start this year going 1-2 with a couple of tough losses to very good teams. Both teams
were not going to make it into the Quad A playoffs. The loser was likely destined for the AAA playoffs.

With Ron Massaroni taking the mound, the Cubs came in confident, but did not want to need to use him too much
because they would need him in the playoffs. Ron did his part pitching 6 shut out innings, giving up just one hit
and one walk over 6 innings. His efficiency allowed his team to keep him dealing on the bump through those 6 innings.
The Bandits had no answer for the Cubs' ace, but the Cubs had their own trouble against an unorthodox Bandit pitcher.

The Cubs finally got on the board in the bottom of the 5th inning. Jerry Rosen walked to lead off the inning. One out later,
Shawn Martin singled moving Rosen to 3rd. The red hot Darrell Duncan doubled home both runners and the Cubs owned
a 2-0 lead.

That rally seemed to ignite the Cubs offense as they added 3 more runs in the bottom of the 6th, boosting the lead to 5-0.
Joe Careccia was the instigator this time, as he singled with one out and immediately stole 2nd. PJ Martone traded places
with Joe, drilling a RBI double to left center. Gene Hallenbeck then walked on 4 pitches and Dave Mitchell then plated both runners
with the Cubs' third double of the inning.

This 5 run lead gave the Cubs the confidence to pull Massaroni, in favor of their Cubs' bullpen. The potent Bandits offense that
had been tamed for the first 6 innings by Massaroni, unleashed a 5 run rally in the top of the 7th to tie the game. Unfortunately for
Bandits, the Cubs hitting machine was running at full speed, and were not going to let this game slip away. Shawn Martin led off
the inning with a single after a fielders choice by Duncan, Bob Bolt walked to load the bases. Paul Miles singled home Martin and
Massaroni drove home Duncan. Ralph Caputo's fielders choice pushed Bolt across with the 3rd run in the inning. Cubs lead 8-5
after 7 complete innings.

The 8th inning caused more stress as the Cubs' bullpen was unable to shut down the Bandits. They got 3 consecutive walks with one out.
After a big strike out, the Bandits got a single to cut the lead to 8-6. The Cubs decided to bring in Mike Girard to put out the fire.
He walked the first batter that he faced on 4 pitches and the Cubs' lead was just one. With the game hanging in the balance, Girard got
the Bandits' #3 hitter to ground out to 3rd. It was on to the bottom half of the 8th with the Cubs clinging to a one run lead.

It was the Cubs' offence to the rescue again. Martone led off with a walk. One out later, the Cubs' strung together 6 consecutive hits:
Mitchell, Rosen, Girard, Martin, Duncan, and Bolt were responsible for plating 4 runs. This rally made the top of the 8th much less tense.
Girard went back out for the 9th and got the Bandits in order in the 9th and the Cubs won 12-7. Shawn Martin and Darrell Duncan led the
way with 3 hits each. Dave Mitchell and Mike Girard added two hits each.

Then it was up to the Seeding Committee to decide where the Cubs would end up. When the Quad A bracket was announced the Cubs were
slotted into the 8th and final seed in the Quad A playoffs. That was both good and bad. It is a great honor to be chosen for one of the 8 spots
in the Quad A playoffs from the 48 teams striving for one of those spots. The down side of being the 8 seed is that we will face the Border City
Brewers, in the first game of the double elimination playoffs, who are the 4 time defending champs and are 4-0 in this year's RR. They have not
lost a game in the Round Robin or Playoffs in the 5 years that they have been participating in the Roy Hobbs World Series. They are a fully
sponsored team with 25-30 players. It will be a true David vs Goliath game, but this Cubs' roster has the ability to pull off the upset. The game
will be at the Jet Blue facility at 10:00 am tomorrow. Today we will rest and recuperate.
LET'S GO CUBBIES!

-- Edited by mgirard11 on Wednesday 12th of November 2025 08:58:41 AM