The Cubs will roll into the playoffs tomorrow, off of an impressive 22-3 rout of the Tri-state (Triad) Titans. The Albany team finished pool play at 4-1, with a tournament low 15 runs given up in 5 games.
The game was never in doubt as the Cubs erupted for 5 runs in the first inning, and 6 more in the second. Ralph Caputo got the start, and went 3 strong innings, giving up just one single and one walk, while striking out 2. Jim McQuade, in just his second appearance in a Fall Classic game came in and got all 9 hitters he faced in order, in his first 3 innings. We tried to get a 4th inning out of him, but he lost his control, in the 7th, and surrendered one run on two hits, a walk, and a HBP. Mike Labarge came in and relieved him, getting all 5 batters that he faced. Dave Mitchell came on in the ninth, and faced 5 batters without recording a single out, and gave up 2 runs, leaving with the bases loaded. Jack Griffin took the ball from Dave, and immediately induced a double play, and got the final out on a fly out to right field.
The Cubs' bats rang out 29 hits, in pushing 22 runs across the plate. Mike Girard led the way with 4 doubles, a single, and 6 RBI's in his 5 trips to the plate. Jack Griffin had a double and three singles in his 5 at bats. Ron Lochner, and Danny Maguire had 3 hits each; and Jerry Rosen, Darrell Duncan, PJ Martone, Ron Massaroni, Mike Labarge, and Tim Brown all had 2 hits each.
This is about as much momentum as you could possibly hope for entering the playoffs on Friday morning. The Cubs will face the loser of this afternoons game between the Long Island Yankees and the North Virginia Pirates at 9:30 am. A win in that game will get the Albany team into the semi-finals at 1:00 pm.
good to hear the news. 29 hits! the 55 Pirates didn't have that many hits all year! Good to see an easier game before the real fun starts tomorrow. Good to see the contributions from EVERYONE during the prelims. BTW ,How do you decide who gets to sit and who stands in the dugouts? All of CDMSBL is watching and proud, good luck going forward. May the good defense , timely hitting and excellent pitching continue.
One of the Triad players asked where all our players were from; said we had an all-star team. When I told him we were an all-Albany team from our own league his draw dropped. 'Nough said!
