Light misty rain, a brisk wind blowing out of the northwest and temperatures hovering in the mid-40s. Perfect baseball weather? Hardly. Just typical for northern Lake County this spring as the GYBA Mustang Pirates took down the Cubs 4-2 on Saturday last.
With parents, siblings and other fans bundled up like they were watching a late November Grayslake Colts football game, the Cubs and Pirates epitomized the best of Mustang baseball in their efforts.
Tyler Looyer, a small, craft left-hander was zeroed in on the plate with his pitches. His ball had nice movement and eluded the bats of the visiting Cubbies. Lefty Looyer hung a couple of goose eggs on the visitors the first two innings while striking out 4 batters. He gave up two runs, but still managed to strike out the side.
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For the Wrigleyville 9, Mark Czyzewski struck out three in two innings with a blazing fastball. The Bucs scored two in the first and one more in the second. Daniel Rudman prevented more from scoring with an amazing first inning unassisted, inning ending double play.
In the top of the third, the Cubs broke through with a brace of runs thanks to clutch RBI singles by Mark Czyzewski and Daniel Rudman. Unfortunately for the bear offspring, the Bucs closed the scoring bank and the scoring fund went dry. Lefty Looyer struck out two more batters for a total of six in three innings of stellar pitching.
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Southpaw Max Karduck took the hill for the Cubs in the bottom of the third. He gave up one run and struck out three before his control suddenly vanished on a frigid jet stream. Daniel Rudman (AKA "The Closer") came in and induced the dangerous Robert Porter to hit a towering fly ball that Tyler Armstrong camped under and put away for the third out.
Rapid Robert Porter threw two shutout innings for the Picaroons while striking out four batters. Rudman of the Cubs struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth after a leadoff walk.
Matthew Parro took the mound for the Pirates in the top of the sixth and struck out the side to end the game.
"This was a very well played game by both teams with great pitching and some great defensive plays. We just came up a little bit short," said coach Scott Price.
The Cubs are in action Monday night at 5:45 p.m. at JayCee North against the Reds.
