2016 Minneapolis Cubs Make it Seven Straight Division Titles and 35+ Crown

Twin City MABL, 35+ Division

Minneapolis Cubs 15, Voyageurs 0

‘Minneapolis Cubs – Seven Straight Division Pennants’

Submitted by Bob Janoski, retiring Cubs manager

The Minneapolis Cubs captured their seventh straight Twin City MABL Division title with an impressive 10-3 record this year and a league championship, winning the inaugural 35+ title. The Cubs previous championship was the 28+ title in 2010. The Cubs have built a winning tradition during the past seven years, assembling an impressive 98-16-1 record.

The boys in blue worked hard all season to give their Manager, BobJanoski, a proper retirement sendoff after 20 seasons in the league. Two exciting one-run playoff wins, punched their ticket for a chance to go out on top. Pitcher John Barbella threw a complete game shutout and the Cubs bats caught fire, pounding out 21 hits in a 15-0 win!

Chris Boline, who earlier in the season collected his 100^thhit as a Cub, went 4 for 4 in the final contest to lead the offensive explosion.

Veterans Rick Hillard and Brian Blake put together their best seasons ever at the plate, hitting .516 and .514 respectively, and were selected to the TCMABL All-Star Game. Pitcher Paul O’Gara, with an impressive 2.90 ERA in league play joined them in this year’s classic.

Co-Captains Dan Casazza and Jeff Kaczmarczyk led the club both on and off the field, reaching personal milestones along the way. Dan collected his 200^th hit and scored his 200^th run. Jeff scored his 200^th run and is just ten hits shy of 200 hits himself.

Burnie Rossum and John Barbella, two of the winningest pitchers in the TCMABL’s 18+ Division during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, provided a dominant one-two punch on the mound for the Cubs throughout 2016. Now in their 40’s, these two aces are tougher than ever and truly carried our ball club on their shoulders all season long.

Mike Meyer and Brett Hughes led the Cubs in plate appearances, as well as hits and runs scored, respectively. Steve Bubb and Nash Simet topped all base runners with 24 stolen bases each. Aggressive and smart on the base paths, the Cubs set a league record for runs scored. Ben Rossum pounded out his 100^thRBI for our club and was truly a field general behind the plate throughout the season. J.H. Jung joined the Cubs for the final two regular season games, introducing the South Korean slugger to American baseball.

A very grateful manager got to go out on top thanks to his Cubs-Bob