By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - In a battle between the first and second place teams in the Babe Ruth's Junior Division, it was the No. 2 Reds who grabbed the playoff crown Wednesday evening with a 10-9 win over the No. 1 Cubs.
The Reds took control of the game early, taking a 1-0 lead on the top of the first inning, but the Cubs were able to score a run in the second to tie the game at 1-1.
Both teams brought in one run each in the third to tie the game at two, but one run in the fourth put the Reds up, 3-2.
The Cubs rallied big in the bottom of the fifth scoring four runs to give them a 6-3 lead, but the Reds proved they weren't giving up and scored six runs in the top of the sixth and one in the top of the seventh to give them the 10-6 lead.
The Cubs made a big attempt to comeback in the final inning, but were only able to score three runs before Reds pitcher Jake Ferguson made the last play of the game with a strike out, giving them a 10-9 championship win.
Ferguson took the win on the mound, throwing 10 strike outs, eight walks and allowing two hits.
Dustin Zimmerman suffered the loss for the Cubs, throwing one strike out, five walks and allowing three hits.
The Reds were led offensively by Dominique Pompey with a single and a double, Cody Udell had a single, RBI and scored one run, Ferguson had a single and scored one run, Jesse McCombs had a single, RBI and scored three runs and Brad Ricthey had a single and three runs.
Top hitters for the Cubs were Travis Rooney with a double and scored one run and Zimmerman wih a double, RBI and scored two runs.