The night game featured The 8-seed Cubs and the 2-seed Minnesota Bees at the Twins Spring Training Stadium. Ron Massaroni took the mound after having pitched 6 innings 1 day earlier (0 days rest). That is tough enough, but Ron was also dealing with a bum knee. Incredible heart and determination is what this guy is made of.
The way he pitched in this game, with all of that going on, bordered on a miracle. He held them 2-seed scoreless through 5 innings. His offense got off to a great start in the early innings. In the first, PJ Martone walked and Hallenbeck sent him all of the way home with a mammoth double, and then scored on a Jerry Rosen 2-out single. In the second inning, the Cubs plated another run on singles by Paul Graziano and Shawn Martin. Hallenbeck plated Graziano with a 2-out RBI single. It was Cubs 3 - Bees 0, through 5 complete innings.
In the top of the 5th, Hallenbeck singled but was erased on a fielders choice by Mitchell. Mike Girard then sent Mitchell on a 270 foot sprint with a double to right center to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the 6th inning the Bees' bats came alive, but it was an error by the first baseman in the middle of 4 hits by the Bees that made the rally good for 4 runs instead of 3. That allowed the Bees to tie the game at 4. The game remain tied until the bottom of the 8th. An exhausted Massaroni tried to go as far as he could, so that the Cubs might have some pitching for the gauntlet that would be Championship Saturday.
The inning started with a lead off single for the home team. Jerry Rosen gunned out that runner as he tried to steal second. A long flyout to center was snared by a running Paul Miles. Two outs and nobody on. The next Bees' batter walked, followed by a bunt single, and another walk. Now the bases were loaded still with 2 outs. When a pitcher gets tired his arm drags behind him and he loses his command. Ronnie was at this point and something needed to be done. Girard offered his services even though he was quite tired himself. That didn't matter. There were no other options. So, Girard came in to get the last out. Unfortunately, he walked the Bees leadoff hitter, and the Bees had their first lead of the game (5-4). Girard got the Bees' #2 hitter on a strike out and it was on to the 9th. Shawn Martin led off with a single and Martone moved him to second with a slow grounder to first. Man on second with one out. Hallenbeck came up and was intentionally walked. Smart move by the Bees manager. The next two Cubs popped out to the infield and suddenly the tournament was over for the Cubs. Bees 5 and the Cubs 4.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, but the injuries and an overworked pitching staff finally took its toll. This club should be very proud of what they accomplished with so few healthy pitchers and position players. If we had just been able to close out that game against the 1-seed Border City Brewers on day one of the playoffs, this could have been a different story. I will right up a summary of this week at a later time. I'm a too sore to sit at this laptop right now. Thank you all for your support and well wishes!
What a Herculean effort by our Albany Cubs team. Though you came up a few runs short of a championship game appearance, you guys confirmed that the CDMSBL produces some of the best baseball players/teams in the country. So proud of all of you. Thank you Mike for all of your bulletin board posts, and giving those of us who couldnt be there a chance to get a glimpse of the action. Safe travels home (with no flight delays) TimB
Very proud of my baseball brothers. Ditto on TBs comments. I told McQ you should take solace in the fact that you are one of the best 60 teams in the country. Mike I know this isnt how you envisioned your last game. Ive said it before, and I still stand by it, youre the best player to ever lace up his cleats in the CDMSBL.
Very proud of all the players and the grit of this Cubs team. Tournaments are a jaugernnaut of strategy and a good manager has to balance participation with performance as well as lining up the pitching for the day while keeping an eye on the future. Well done Jim. The determination of Ron , Bob , and Mike doesn't surprise me, they are gamers all and never hesitate to take the ball. I'm sure also, many of players were gutting it up to take the field and run the bases. You don't play this many games without being sore, lame or injured.
You took the hard route in the playoffs for sure. Came up just short. Not for lack of guts. 8 seeds don't normally survive long !
Mike thanks for the posts, game by game. I felt like I was there....except for the lack of sea air and sunshine.
I tried to keep up with the teams and individuals going to Arizona and Florida ....we had six full teams and many free agents. I'm sure no other league is as prolific and doubly sure no other league represents as well. Proud of all of you.
