Cards Take One From The Cubs

Morning rain delayed the start of this game for an hour. The coaches and dads from both teams and the field umpire worked furiously, dumping Turface on to the soggy infield and raking it into the clay to absorb the excess moisture.

Both teams found dry areas to warm up and practice during this time. There was no doubt they would be ready come game time. Though cloudy most of the morning, the sun made the sky bright, and temperatures were pleasant in the upper 60s.

The home team Cardinals struck first in the bottom of the first with two runs on four walks and two hits. The Cubs threatened in the top of the second, but four strikeouts in two innings killed any rallies.

The Cards struck for two more tallies in the bottom of the second on three walks and two hits to take a 4-0 lead. The Cubs were shut out in the top of the third, while the Cards scored their final run on two hits, a walk and a hit batter.

The Cubs finally got off the schneid by scoring two runs in the top of the seventh. After an inning-opening strikeout, Daniel Rudman got things going with a single. Zach Morgan followed with an RBI triple. Max Karduck hit a hard groundout to the second baseman that brought in Morgan. Nick Bean hit another hard grounder to second but was thrown out, and the proverbial Viking songstress began to wail.

Karduck had four strikeouts in two shutout innings on the hill.

The Cubs are 4-4 on the season and looking to move out of third place. Their next game is at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at JayCee North.