The 5-time defending champion Border City Brewers and Albany Cubs squared off in game one of the Quad A playoffs (double-elimination).
The Brewers got off to their, typical start. The leadoff hitter blooped a single and immediately stole second. The #2 hitter also blooped a single and stole second. The 3 hitter singled home the first two runs of the game. A walk and a hit later and the bases were loaded, still with no outs. It was starting to look ominous for the Cubbies. The next hitter lined the ball right at Gene Hallenbeck, playing 3rd. Gene speared the liner and stepped on second for a much needed double play. Starting pitcher, Mike Girard, used the adrenaline from that good fortune and struck out the Brewers' 6-hitter to get out of the first inning only down 2-0.
Fast forward to the top of the 5th inning as Girard and the Brewers starter hung goose eggs on the board for innings 2-4. The Cubs broke the ice against the Brewers' hired gun on the mound in the top of the 5th inning. Gene Hallenbeck with a booming stand-up triple. One out later, Girard helped his cause with a RBI single. The Brewers didn't let that good feeling last long as the Brewers' 5-hitter pounded a two out RBI double that scored the runner all of the way from 1st.
The Cubs failed to plate a runner from 3rd, in the top of the 6th, after Bob Bolt and Paul Graziano had hit consecutive singles. The bottom of the 6th saw Girard struggle with his control and the Brewers took advantage with a walk, double, single and a sacrifice fly to plate 3 runs and boost the lead to 6-1. Girard escaped further damage by getting a weak ground out and a strike out. The Brewers were starting to look comfortable with a 5 run lead. Nothing unexpected for them up to this point.
What was not expected by this team that had won 45 consecutive games in this tournament was what happened in the top of the 7th. Gene Hallenbeck stroked another long double to lead off the inning. After one out, Girard single Gene to third. The shared runner (Paul Miles) then stole second, so the Cubs had 2 runners in scoring position with only one out. Jerry Rosen followed with a RBI single. Darrell Duncan did one better with a RBI double. The Cubs weren't done yet as Joe Careccia got a RBI single and stolen base of his own, and one out later Paul Graziano singled home Careccia. Suddenly, the Cubs and Brewers were tied at 6.
Girard was getting tired, but got through the bottom of the 7th scoreless while facing the 3-4-5-and 6 hitters only allowing one single. The Cubs took advantage of that effort in the top of the 8th when PJ Martone walked to lead off the inning. One out later, Dave Mitchell singled, and with 2 outs, Jerry Rosen hit a clutch 2-out double to score 2 runs. The Cubs left runners on 2nd and 3rd, but had a 2 run lead at 8-6. With 6 outs to get the Cubs had the lead on the mighty Brewers.
In the bottom the 8th, Girard got the first out on a grounder to first. A double and a single later, the Cubs' manager called for a reliever. That reliever had just thrown 9 innings against the power house Orlando Royals 3 days earlier (only 2 days rest). That effort left him at less than his best. He walked his first batter to load the bases with one out and the top of the Brewers order coming up. It looked like he had the lead off hitter struck out, but the home plate umpire disagreed and he walked in the first run of the inning. He hit the next batter and the game was tied. One more walk was issued and the Brewers were up 9-8. The clean-up hitter singled up the middle and the lead was now 11-8. The Cubs' reliever then got a strike out of the Brewers' 5 hitter and a routine 5-3 ground out.
The Cubs came up in the 9th with an 11-8 deficit, but did not throw in the towel. With one out, Bob Bolt stroked his second single of the day. One more batter until the top of the order would be coming up, but unfortunately the next batter grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, and the Cubs were on the losing side of an 11-8 hard luck loss. That effort would have been enough to beat any other team in this tournament. Not this team.
