Game 5: Braves 8, Cubs 1

Led by strong pitching and fueled by a big inning, the Braves defeated the Cubs on a chilly night at Water Tower.
The Braves made excellent contact, striking out only once in the game. Liam thumped a single and a double. With one out in the bottom of the first, Alec doubled to left field, Nick walked, and Connor's RBI single drove in Alec. 1-0, Braves.
Connor pitched around some errors to shut the Cubs through 3 innings. Meanwhile, Cubs shortstop Carter Heston kept his team in the game with several dazzling defensive plays. The Cubs tied the game in the fourth.
But in the bottom of the inning, the Braves put 7 runs on the board while batting around. Scott singled, Tyler walked, Anthony moved the runners over. Liam singled, Matt walked,
Alec doubled, Nick singled up the middle, Connor singled, Evan doubled to drive in Nick and Connor. Braves 8, Cubs 1.
Alec closed on the mound, knocking down a hard shot and throwing the runner out, then striking out the final batter.
Notes: While pitching, Connor had an epic battle with Cubs slugger Evan Miller. Evan fouled off several good pitches before Connor got him to miss a change of speed -- not the goofy changeup some kids are throwing, but a modest variation in speed that nonetheless disrupted the batter's timing.
Both teams grasped the importance of pitchers covering home on wild

pitches and passed balls, as both teams tagged runners out at the plate.
Karen Kimple, Connor's mom, celebrated her birthday at the park with a
surprise cake.
Next game: Saturday May 22, 3 p.m. at Water Tower, vs. the As. Have your Brave there by 2 p.m., please.