2016 Cobb Reds Reclaim West Metro Atlanta 35+ Mid-Week Championship

West Metro Atlanta Mid-Week 35+ Division

Cobb Reds 17, Cubs 9

Submitted by Don Fletcher, Cobb Reds manager

For the second time in three years, the Cobb Reds are champions of the West Metro Atlanta MSBL 35-over Mid-Week division. The Reds put together a 9-4-2 season hitting their stride coming into the playoffs. The Reds were matched up against a tenacious Cubs team who shocked last year’s defending champions in the semi finals.

Hard throwing lefty Luis Nesmith was set to take the mound against the Cubs. In the early evening of a hot, humid night in Georgia, Luis was on fire striking out four in the first two innings. The Cubs starter cruised through the first inning before running into trouble in the second. A couple of walks, a fielder’s choice and a Cub error led to the bases being loaded for Frank Guisty. On a 1-2 count, Frank crushed a bases clearing double into the left field corner giving the Reds a three run lead scoring Jon-Mikel Moody, Chris Greenwald and Bill Kemp. The Cubs fought back in the top of the third scoring three runs to tie the game behind a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a couple of hits.

The Reds scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning and one more in the fourth going up 6-3. The Cubs added a run in the top of the fifth closing up the score 6-4. Josh Davis, Don Fletcher and Jon-Mikel Moody all scored in the bottom of the fifth inning increasing the score 9-4. The Cubs added one run in the sixth and four runs in the seventh while the Reds pushed another three runs across the plate making the score going into the bottom of the eighth inning 12-9. Andy Austin and Luis Nesmith both reached base setting up Ivan Reid who laid a perfect bunt down the third base line which not only moved the runners over but also recorded a base hit.

Josh Davis, Don Fletcher and Jon-Mikel Moody followed with hits and the Reds pushed five runs across in the bottom of the eighth essentially putting the game out of reach.The Reds battery of Luis Nesmith and Chris Reeder fought through the humid night with Luis throwing upwards of 150 pitches striking out 10 Cubs batters. The Reds batters racked up 19 hits and seven walks on the way to a 17-9 victory. The 2016 season wouldn’t have been possible without the pitching contribution of Sam Brown. The Reds look forward to defending their championship in 2017.