The Redbirds (50+) continued their red-hot summer with a 17-7 statement win over the Cubs on Saturday at McInnish Sports Complex, and it was Rich Beller who delivered the thunder. The veteran second baseman turned in a monster performance, driving in five runs on three extra-base hits and earning Player of the Game honors.
After a first-inning error gifted the Cubs an early lead, the Redbirds answered back quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Jerry Gamez came through with a two-run single to give the Redbirds a lead they would never relinquish. The offense didn’t stop there. In the second inning, Aaron Nowels slapped an RBI single to left, Kevin Fought doubled down the line, and Beller followed with a laser triple to right, pushing the lead to 6-1. John Mahalik added a run-scoring groundout to keep the inning rolling.
By the fifth inning, the game was well in hand, but the Redbirds still had more fireworks in store. They exploded for six runs on six hits, highlighted by Beller’s two-run single and Mahalik’s two-run base knock. Gamez and Daron Wilkinson each contributed RBIs in the inning, as the Redbirds pushed the score to 14-7. Beller capped his day with a two-run double in the sixth, his third extra-base hit of the game.
On the mound, Mark Tierney gutted through five innings, scattering nine hits and striking out six despite some pressure from the Cubs lineup. Mahalik closed the door with a scoreless sixth. The Redbirds offense, meanwhile, was relentless—totaling 19 hits and four stolen bases in a display of power and speed.
Fought was electric out of the leadoff spot, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs and five total bases. Gamez and Mahalik each collected three RBIs. Wilkinson, Chris Cec, and Gamez all chipped in with multiple hits to support the offensive barrage.
With the win, the Redbirds (50+) move confidently into their next matchup on the road against Metroflex. But Saturday belonged to Rich Beller, who drove in nearly a third of the team’s runs and showed once again why he’s one of the most feared bats in the lineup.
