NHBA playoffs: Comeback Cubs

NEWPORT BEACH - An early flood didn’t drown the Cubs.

The Astros took a 5-0 lead, but the Cubs stormed back to tie and then

scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to win, 9-8, capturing the

Mustang Division championship in the Newport Harbor Baseball Association

Saturday.

Down, 8-7, the Cubs’ Wyeth Rietveld walked and Gabriel Gomez singled

to put runners on first and second. With two strikes, Austin Deyan

singled up the middle to drive in the tying and winning runs for the

Cubs.

Blake Davey and Cody Holter hit home runs in the first inning for the

Astros to create the early lead.

The Cubs clawed their way back, tying the game, 6-6, after four

innings. Excellent Cubs pitching by Rietveld and Deyan, as well as strong

efforts from Astros hurlers Davey and Austin Wobrook, kept the game

close.

The Cubs received key plays from Chad Seeber, Macky Gautschi, Ryan

Hatcher, Max Jolliffe, Wesley Woods, Steven Denghausen and Jed Gentry and

injured Rory Kew supported his teammates from the bench.