Cubs and Redhawks faced off with an 8am start Sunday at Long Lake Regional Park, amongst heavy fire smoke engulfing the entire front range.  With a rivalry like these two teams have had, emotions were expected to run high and pitching was expected to be as perfect as a Max Scherzer/Justin Verlander showdown (but from the left side).  

Cubs ace southpaw, and NABA league leader, JD Heredia (Adams St) and Redhawks southpaw Dylan Smith (UNC) was a matchup fans were waiting for when the schedule was finally released.  These two have dominated NABA over the last few years and didn't let down.  Heredia pitched a complete game (8 innings due to time limit) 5 hit, 1 ER, 5 k's with Smith pitching into the 8th, giving up 6 ER with 8 k's, including sitting down the first 9 batter of the game. 

After going through the order, the Cubs were done surveying the landscape and went hunting for some Hawks getting 2 in the 4th, another run with a two-out rally in the 5th, and then getting late insurance runs in the top of the 8th after a leadoff double from DH Bryer (BamBam) Mueller, then scoring on a 2run-homer from 1B Paul (the Ripper) Rummage, who has hit his second homer in as many weeks.  Immediately following that, a solo homerun from C Adam Bradell up on the left field hill from the right side of the plate.  

"We knew this was going to be a good game, after they eliminated us from the playoffs last year, we were ready to get some revenge and our hitting and defense was great, and JD was electric on the mound, becoming stronger and stronger as the game went on," said Bradell while trading stocks in his locker.  

The game was not without controversy however, things continued to get heated as the game went on with the Cubs becoming frustrated from quick-pitching and the Redhawks yelling at the umps about Heredia balking.  Cooler heads prevailed and we had a baseball history first of a player being "un"-ejected.  

Cubs move to 8-0 and remain tied for first with the Nightrain.  Redhawks, with the loss, move to 3-3-2.