On a perfect night to play the third and final game of the 55+ Championship Series, the Cubs and Yankees put on quite a show for a very respectable crowd. There was great pitching, clutch hitting, and great defense played by both sides. The outcome was in doubt until the very final pitch.
The Yankees were up first and immediately staked their claim to the championship. Lex Herlett led off with a single. Chris Dunn (Cubs' starter) got a strike out for the first out before Tony Parella singled to put runners at first and second with just one out. Carlos Llera followed with a long double that brought home the first run and left runners at 2nd and 3rd, with still just one out. Darrell Duncan then hit a ball at the Cubs' first baseman that looked like an easy second out. He (me) looked up to check the runner at 3rd and booted the ball. The Yankees second run scored on the error and left runners at 1st and 3rd with still just one out. This brought back memories of game one, where some untimely Cubs' errors in the 3rd inning gave the Yankees a big lead and led to their eventual victory. The Yankees then tried a double steal, but the Cubs worked a perfect cutoff and Carlos Espada's throw was in time to nail the runner trying to score. Jack Griffin capped the Yankees rally with a clutch 2-out RBI single that gave the Yanks a 3-0 lead after 1.
The Cubs let the Yanks know that they would not shrink away due to one bad inning when they got a run back in the bottom of the 1st. Bryce Cutler got the ball rolling with a one out single and a stolen base. Chris Dunn delivered him with a RBI single and it was 3-1 after 1 inning.
The Yankees got a run in the top of the second, to try to reestablish control of the game. Dave Smitherman was the instigator this time. He singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to 3rd on a fielder's choice. He scored on Lex Herlett's RBI ground out to second. The Yanks now were in possession of a 4-1 lead and had their ace, Doug Duell dealing. The bottom of the second saw Jerry Rosen and Jim Bonaparte each single, but Duell got out of the inning unscathed by getting a big strike out to end the inning.
After the first time through the Yankees order, Chris Dunn started to take control on the mound. The 4 runs that were scored in the first two innings (only 2 were earned) were the only runs that Chris would allow. He got the heart of the Yanks order (3-8), over the next two innings, without a base runner. This gave his Cubs teammates confidence that they could make a run at the Yanks if they could only solve Duell's mastery on the mound.
In the 3rd inning, Cutler would again get the rally going with a one-out single. Dunn would single him to third and steal second. With just one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd, it was time for Mike Girard to make up for his costly error in the 1st inning. He worked Duell to a full count when Duell threw a tough slider that was in a perfect spot. Girard got the bat on the ball and bounced a high chopper to first that was enough to get the speedy Cutler home with the Cubs' second run. 4-2 in favor of the Yankees after 3.
The Cubs' hitters were making Duell work hard for his outs; rarely making outs without going deep into the counts. It all came to fruition in the bottom of the 4th inning when the Cubs rallied for two runs to tie the game. Mike Reutter led off with a single and PJ Martone crushed a long double over the head of the right fielder. Jim Bonaparte followed with a walk to load the bases with no outs. Duell showed his grit by striking out the next hitter. Carlos Espada singled and the Cubs were just 1 run down. Cutler followed with another great at bat, walking in the tying run. With the score tied at 4, and the bases loaded with one out, it felt like a Cubs' tidal wave was about to wash over the Yankees but Duell got Dunn to hit a hard grounder right at the Yanks second baseman, who tagged Cutler as he was heading to second and threw to first in plenty of time for the inning ending double play. 4-4 tie after.
The Yankees looked like they might ride the momentum of that big double play when they put runners on the corners with one out, on a one-out walk to Tim Burns and a single from Herlett. Dunn, however, got a grounder to first and a huge strike out from the Yanks #2 and #3 hitters, and the score remained tied at 4.
It looked as though the momentum pendulum had swung back in the Cubs' favor with these two big outs, when the Cubs would again load the bases with nobody out, in the bottom of the 5th. Mike Girard led off with a solid single to left center. Mike Reutter followed with a single, as did Jerry Rosen. Dave Smitherman was the Yanks reliever that got into this jam, but he then pulled a "Houdini" when he induced a force out at home for the first out and got a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning with the game still tied. His teammates got a shot of adrenaline with this escape, and looked poised to bounce back out front with their 4-5-6 hitters coming up in the top of the 6th. One problem: Chris Dunn was pitching great. He silenced their bats in the crucial top of the 6th with two flyouts to center and a strikeout sandwiched around a Jack Griffin single.
Now was the time for the Cubs. If the Cubs wanted the game bad enough, it was right there for the taking. A surprising place to find themselves with the way the game started, facing one of the premier pitchers in the entire league. Paul Miles led off the inning. Paul had struck out his previous two times at the plate. As he headed to the plate, I said, "Paul, it only takes one good at bat to make up for the whole night." He took that to heart and started the rally with a sharp single and a stolen base. Carlos Espada immediately plated Miles with a double and went to 3rd on the throw home. Smitherman tried to keep the score at 5-4, with a strike out for the first out of the inning. He also got Dunn to ground to second, but Espada got a great break from third, and this with his wheels was enough to make the only play to first. The Cubs would head to the top of the 7th with a 6-4 lead, and Dunn still in control.
Dunn hit Dave Leonard with a 3-2 pitch to start the 7th, and the Yanks bench started to make noise. Maybe it was their turn to make a come from behind rally. The next batter grounded to Matt Miles at 3rd, and he threw to second to get the lead runner. Dunn got the second out via his 7th strike out of the game. That brought Lex Herlett to the plate, who already had 2 hits in his previous 3 trips to the plate. Lex lifted a high pop up to foul grounds near first. The ball came to rest in the glove of yours truly, and the celebration began. The Cubs were now repeat Champions in the 55+ Division in Mike Girard and Mike Reutter's final game as CDMSBL players. We couldn't have drawn it up any better.
This was a true team effort to beat a very talented Yankees team that fought until the very last pitch! It has been a blast playing with all of the great teammates and opponents over the past 35 years. It has always been my pleasure and an honor to share the field with so many talented players and friend who love this game as much as I do.
Thanks everyone for all of the wonderful memories! They will last me a lifetime.
-- Edited by mgirard11 on Tuesday 30th of September 2025 10:32:35 AM
Thank you, Cubs and Mike Girard [ my cousin] for a wonderful 5 years and 3 championships! It all started 15 years ago when I decided to retire from professional fastpitch Softball and begin my transfer to baseball. I wanted to play in a highly competitive league and was told that the CDMSBL was where it was at. My first contact was at Mohonasen High school and that contact was you guessed it, Mike Girard. I parked my car and approached the Marlins practice on that day with all the confidence that I would be a shoe in. Well, you guessed it Mike Girard noticed me walking up and moved forward to greet me. I said hello my name is Mike Reutter and I want to play baseball, he looked at me with a Girard grin and said I'm Mike Girard nice to meet you I replied nice to meet you. Mike didn't waste any time and asked me were and what type of baseball have I played in my previous years. I replied softball and his face frowned at that reply to say the least. I wanted to tell him that I played for over 10 years in Majors in fast pitch softball and was on a team that was ranked in the top ten of the world but I'm stubborn as much as he is and remained silent thinking we will meet again. Mike gave me Don Dunham's number and that's were my career began with the CDMSBL Yankees. 10 years with the Yankees/Bombers and 3 championships later Mike Girard and I got to know each other between the lines to say the least, thank you Lex and the Bomber family I will always cherish those 10 years and 3 championships but unfortunately I was unable to move on to the 55s with the Bombers due to one really bad day that effected my family my fault partially. I'm now 55 years old and in search of a team to play on. I wonder if Mike Girard will think different of a softball player now to be on his team if I ask him again if he has room for me on his 55 Champion Cub team?? 5 years later and 3 more championships etched in stone I think it was quite a success. I can't think of a better way or time to go out. 15 years in the league 6 championships and 13 out of the 15 years playing in the finals is more than any player can ever ask for. Thank you, John Reel, Mike Girard, Lex, my Cubbies, my Bombers and all players for making a softball players dream come true playing the greatest game of baseball. I look forward to next year and playing on Wednesdays when my crazy schedule allows from the State.
