South Bend Cubs Win Midwest League Title in Sweep

The Cubs are going to have at least one championship this year, as South Bend won the Midwest League title Saturday night in Clinton, Iowa. The Cubs’ Low-A affiliate did not lose a single game in the postseason, sweeping sets against Bowling Green and Great Lakes to advance to the finals and then taking all three games from the Clinton LumberKings in the championship series.

In the title game, The Cubs won 5-0 behind Riley Thompson’s five no-hit innings. His fastball was sitting in the mid-90’s all night and hitters struggled to square up the young righty. His breaking ball was on point, too, as Thompson struck out an amazing 10 batters, including five of the first six.

As for the offense, the Cubs got home runs from Levi Jordan and Andy Weber. Jordan’s came in the 2nd to make it 2-0 and Weber’s came in the 5th to make it 4-0. Weber’s shot down the left field line really took the wind right out of Clinton’s sails, but they only managed two hits the whole night.

Fauris Guerrero and Eugenio Palma were excellent in relief, bridging the gap from Thompson to Brian Glowicki. The closer made it uneventful in the 9th with a pop up, a nubber back to the pitcher, and a fly out to Cole Roederer to end it all.

The players on this team are going to be exciting follows as they go through the system and try to continue their winning ways. This was the third championship in a row for many of them after capturing the rookie league crown two years ago in Arizona before doing the same last year in Eugene. Now they’ve got another with South Bend, so maybe the winning will be contagious.

Most of this squad will head to Myrtle Beach next spring, where they’ll continue to develop and, hopefully, to win. Congratulations to the South Bend Cubs from Cubs Insider!