The Miami County Cubs scored three times in the first two at bats to get the early lead, and shut down the New Carlisle Knights to only three hits, as the Cubs defeated the Knights 5-1 on Sunday afternoon in Troy.
Both the Knights and Cubs moved over to the Dayton Amateur Baseball League this season, and the Cubs were formerly known as the Troy Yankees. Both teams were a part of the Roy Hobbs League the last several years.
The Knights opened the game with a threat in the opening inning as John Smith led off the game with a single and a steal of second. Following a ground out from Hawkeye Pierce, David Light ripped a line drive at the Cubs shortstop, who doubled off Smith who was caught off the bag for an inning-ending double play to end the threat.
While the Knights couldn’t capitalize on their chance, the Cubs did score in their first try. Brandon Artz led off with a single, stole second, and came into score when Scott Jones singled to give the host Cubs the early lead. Jones then stole second and scored when Chris Brown tripled on a ball that was lost in right field, giving Miami County a 2-0 lead. Brown was left at third as Pierce recovered to retire the next two batters.
Another run scored in the second inning for the Cubs, as Joe Allen led off reaching on an error, stole second and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Steve Critz. When Tike Swank grounded out, Allen scored to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile the Knights put runners on in each of the early innings, but could not capitalize until the fourth inning. In the top of the fourth for New Carlisle, Chris Garrett reached on a bunt single with one out, and moved up on a passed ball. Following a JD Perry pop out to first, Chris Roth lined a single to right to plate Garrett, putting the Knights on the board.
In the fifth, the Knights threatened again with two outs. Smith walked, stole second, and swiped third when Pierce walked. But the Knights left the lead runner 90 feet away when Light popped out to left field, leaving the Knights trailing by two.
The Cubs added two more runs in the sixth, as Rusty Long doubled to lead off the inning, and later scored on a single from Brandon Artz. Adamski then tripled to score Artz to push the Cubs lead to 5-1.